The Portland State Vikings (6-13, 4-7 Big Sky) and the Northern Colorado Bears (10-10, 5-3) meet in a Big Sky contest Thursday in Greeley, Colo. Tip-off from Bank of Colorado Arena is slated for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Portland State vs. Northern Colorado odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Portland State has struggled in shooting the basketball for much of this season but heads into Thursday on a two-game win streak that has seen them shoot a combined 50.4% from the field. The second of those wins was a 79-76 victory Monday over these same Northern Colorado Bears.
Northern Colorado has been the best shooting team by effective field-goal percentage in the Big Sky this season, and has shot 46.5% from the floor and 37.7% from 3-point range. However, UNC trailed Monday’s game by as many as 24 points before storming back to tie the game with 5:19 remaining.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Portland State at Northern Colorado 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 9:24 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Portland State +310 (bet $100 to win $310) | Northern Colorado -410 (bet $410 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Portland State +8.5 (-112) | Northern Colorado -8.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Portland State at Northern Colorado odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Northern Colorado 78, Portland State 68
Money line
No value to be had on either side: PASS.
Against the spread
Portland State went 11-for-25 from 3-point range to pull out the victory Monday. The middle 20 minutes of that game saw the Vikings maintain a lead of 8-16 points most of the way and by as many as 24 at one point.
However, look for the Bears to be a big enough plus in shooting normally to get most of the way to covering this figure. Add in a big expected edge in attempts at the foul line, and UNC figures to get this game into double-digit territory.
BACK NORTHERN COLORADO -8.5 (-108).
Over/Under
Monday’s game hit the Over as it sailed past a total of 149.5. The lean in this one is on gravity pulling some possessions down a bit in a second-time-around battle.
Consider a partial-unit play on the UNDER 148.5 (-110), but waiting out a higher total would be the value play.
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