Montana Grizzlies vs Northern Iowa Panthers Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Montana vs Northern Iowa NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Cedar Falls.

Montana vs Northern Iowa Prediction

The Grizzlies and Panthers are set to face off at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Panthers will host the game at McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, IA. The odds for this non-conference game currently have Northern Iowa as the -9.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 145 points.

Montana vs. Northern Iowa Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Montana Grizzlies at Northern Iowa Panthers
Where: Cedar Falls at McLeod Center
Date: Monday, December 16th
Betting Odds NIOWA -9.5, MONT +334 | NIOWA -450 O/U 145

Grizzlies Preview: Are Montana Ready for a Road Win?

Montana fell to 4-4 on the season after an 88-81 road loss to St. Thomas (MN) on Saturday. The Grizzlies entered the game as +5.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread.

Montana trailed 40-39 at halftime and allowed 48 points in the 2nd half while scoring 42. The game’s total points of 169 exceeded the O/U line of 145.

Grizzlies Offense Breakdown

Montana's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 81 points with a 52.5% shooting performance from the field. They were particularly effective from beyond the arc, hitting 50% of their threes (12/24) and posting an effective field goal percentage of 62.7%. The Grizzlies also connected on 77.8% of their free throws, going 7/9 from the line.

Malik Moore led the way with 30 points, shooting 84.6% overall and 85.7% from three (6/7). Nolan Minessale and Kendall Blue each added 22 points, with Blue hitting 5 of 7 from deep. Montana finished with 22 assists, with Drake Dobbs dishing out 6 to go along with his 14 points.

Grizzlies Team Defense

Montana's defense struggled, giving up 88 points on 50% shooting from the field. They allowed 20 two-point baskets on 36 attempts, a 55% success rate for their opponent.

From beyond the arc, Montana's opponent hit 9 of 22 threes, shooting 40%. They also sent them to the line 25 times, where they made 21 free throws, an 84% rate. Montana gave up 8 offensive rebounds.

Panthers Preview: Can Northern Iowa Pull Out the Win as Home Favorites?

Northern Iowa Panthers Recent Game

The Panthers improved to 5-4 on the season with a 78-58 win over Omaha on Friday, December 13th. Playing at home, Northern Iowa entered the game as 14-point favorites and covered the spread with the 20-point victory.

After leading 34-23 at halftime, the Panthers scored 44 points in the 2nd half while allowing 35. The game’s total points of 136 fell short of the O/U line of 142.

Panthers Offense Breakdown

Northern Iowa put up 78 points in their last game, shooting 47.8% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 54.3%. They hit 42.9% of their threes, going 6-for-14, and were solid at the line, making 28 of 35 free throws for an 80% mark.

Trey Campbell connected on 4 of 6 threes, finishing with 20 points and 8 rebounds, while Jacob Hutson added 21 points and 5 assists. The Panthers also got 14 points from Lance Waddles, who hit 3 threes, and JJ White, who went 3-for-4 from deep, finishing with 11 points.

Panthers Team Defense

Despite Northern Iowa giving up 47% shooting, they held their opponent to just 58 points. The Panthers allowed 16 two-pointers on 32 attempts, a 50% conversion rate.

From beyond the arc, Northern Iowa's defense saw the opposition hit 6 of 14 threes, good for 42%. They also sent them to the line 35 times, where they converted 28 free throws at an 80% clip.

Grizzlies vs Panthers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last three games away from home, the Grizzlies have a straight up record of 0-3 while going 1-2 vs the spread. The team's offense averaged 73 points per game in these contests.
In their last ten games at home, the Panthers have a straight up record of 4-6 while going 5-5 vs the spread. The team's offense averaged 74 points per game in these contests.
Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Grizzlies have gone 3-7 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-8.
In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Panthers have a strong straight up record of 4-1. In addition, their ATS record was 4-1 in these scenarios.