The Northern Colorado Bears (10-11, 5-4 Big Sky) and Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (8-13, 4-6) clash Saturday for a Big Sky showdown in Flagstaff, Ariz. The contest at J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome is slated to tip-off at 4 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Northern Colorado vs. Northern Arizona odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Northern Colorado dropped a high-scoring home game to Portland State Thursday. The Bears were on the short end of a 106-99 score in a game that saw a combined 27 3-pointers find twine. The setback marked the third loss in a row for UNC, which ranks 10th in the 11-team Big Sky Conference with 77.5 points allowed per game.
Northern Arizona clocked a low-scoring win at Sacramento State Thursday. The Lumberjacks came back from an 8-point second-half deficit in earning just their second road win of the season. A high-frequency 3-point-shooting NAU squad went 11-of-27 (40.7%) from distance for the game. The Lumberjacks are shooting 41.3% on 3s since Jan. 5.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Northern Colorado at Northern Arizona odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:19 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Northern Colorado -240 (bet $240 to win $100) | Northern Arizona +190 (bet $100 to win $190)
- Against the spread (ATS): Northern Colorado -5.5 (-107) | Northern Arizona +5.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Northern Colorado at Northern Arizona odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Northern Colorado 74, Northern Arizona 71
Money line
Both these teams can shoot from the perimeter and both struggle in defending the 3-ball. Northern Arizona does struggle against faster-paced teams like UNC, but the Bears are coming off a bit of a grind in this week’s travel and the ability to hit treys gives the Lumberjacks a puncher’s chance.
Peg NAU as having about a 35% win probability for this one, and that makes for a borderline value on LUMBERJACKS (+190). Consider a line watch and a move on a figure of +200 or more, or perhaps a secondary play in concert with an ATS wager.
Against the spread
Consider a partial-unit play on NORTHERN ARIZONA +5.5 (-115).
Over/Under
3-pointers aside, every other component of microwave scoring (free-throw attempts, second-chance points, and turnover-transition looks) spells a lower score in this matchup.
The Under is 4-1 NAU’s last four games as an underdog. TAKE THE UNDER 148.5 (-108) in this one.
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