Montana vs. Northern Colorado: Big Sky Championship Picks, Predictions and Odds

The Big Sky Conference Tournament has played out as expected, with the top two teams set for a decisive showdown.

Northern Colorado and Montana both finished the regular season with identical 15-3 conference records and split their two meetings. Now, they face off in a championship clash with an tournament bid on the line.

This game will be a fascinating battle of strengths. Northern Colorado is more balanced and is, in many ways, a better version of Montana, while Montana counters with the experience of coach Travis DeCuire, who aims to lead the Grizzlies back to the tournament for the first time since 2019.

With a high-scoring battle expected, let's dive into the best bets for this thrilling matchup.

Montana vs. Northern Colorado college betting picks and predictions

Northern Colorado -2.5 (-110)

Steve Smiley’s team has been the most consistent in the league all season, and their ability to score efficiently from inside the arc makes them a tough matchup for a Montana defense that has struggled to contain teams in the paint.

In their first meeting this season, Northern Colorado dominated Montana on the road, 81-57, thanks to their size advantage. UNC exploited Montana’s interior defense, out-rebounding them 44-27 and pouring in 52 points in the paint. Langston Reynolds (17 points, 15 rebounds) and forwards Brock Wisne and Isaiah Hawthorne (36 combined points) led the way. Montana, meanwhile, shot just 34.5% from the field and 19% from deep.

The second meeting was a different story, as Montana played with more urgency at Northern Colorado, racing to a 47-34 halftime lead and holding on for an 86-78 victory. This time, Montana’s offense clicked, shooting 62% from the field and 10-of-16 from three. Big Sky Sixth Man of the Year Money Williams was a difference-maker, pouring in 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench.

Despite Montana’s strong showing in their second matchup, Northern Colorado remains the better and far more consistent team. UNC ranks second in the country in defensive rebounding rate and does an excellent job limiting three-point attempts.

Montana’s biggest advantage is its ability to get to the line, as UNC tends to send opponents to the stripe too often. However, Montana’s defense leaves a lot to be desired, ranking 266th nationally in two-point field goal defense.

Northern Colorado’s ability to finish inside (6th in the nation at 58.7% from two) was evident in each of the first two matchups, and we trust that their offense will muster up plenty of easy buckets inside against a weak defense playing for the third straight day.

UNC must get Wisne involved early – he scored 19 in their win but was held to just five in their loss. When Montana adjusted in the rematch, they raced out to a 47-34 halftime lead, got to the free-throw line at will, and forced UNC into more perimeter shots.

UNC has breezed through the Big Sky Tournament so far, winning each of its games by at least 24 points and holding both opponents to 52 points or fewer. Montana, meanwhile, had to battle through a tough semifinal against Northern Arizona before earning a more comfortable win over Idaho.

With more size, better consistency and a favorable matchup inside, Northern Colorado is the play at -2.5.

Over 147.5 Total Points (-110)

Both Northern Colorado and Montana are among the most efficient offensive teams at the mid-major level, and their two regular-season meetings suggest that this championship game should be another high-scoring affair.

UNC ranks 7th in effective field goal percentage (57.1%), while Montana isn’t far behind at 25th (55.8%). Both teams thrive inside the arc – UNC shoots 58.7% from two (6th in the country), and Montana is at 57% (19th). Additionally, both squads shoot around 36% from three, though neither relies heavily on outside shooting.

In the first meeting, Northern Colorado’s dominant rebounding effort led to a 52-26 advantage in points in the paint, contributing to the game’s 138-point total. The second matchup saw an offensive explosion, as Montana shot a blistering 62% from the field and 63% from three, pushing the total to 164 points.

Montana ranks among the top teams in free throw rate, and Northern Colorado’s tendency to foul could allow the Grizzlies to rack up points at the stripe. On the flip side, Montana’s defensive weaknesses – allowing 53.1% shooting inside the arc (266th in the nation) and struggling on the glass – should allow UNC to score at will.

It’s also worth noting that Northern Colorado’s tournament run has been built on efficient offense. Isaiah Hawthorne posted a 29-point performance against Weber State in the second round of this tournament, while Jaron Rillie has been stuffing the stat sheet in each game.

Hawthorne scored 17 points and secured at least six rebounds in each battle against Montana, and Reynolds filled up the box score both times. Even if Wisne is limited, Hawthorne, Reynolds and Rillie all know how to take the reins and should exploit Montana’s defensive lapses.

With both teams playing with plenty of pace and efficiency on offense, and the winner likely needing to score in the 80s to secure the title, this game has all the makings of an over.

Read more betting picks and predictions for College Basketball on site.

Montana vs. Northern Colorado odds

Northern Colorado	-150 ML
Montana	+125 ML
Spread	Northern Colorado -2.5
Total Points	O/U 147.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.