The North Dakota Fighting Hawks (12-19) take on the Denver Pioneers (15-16) Friday in the opening round of the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D. Tip from Denny Sanford Premier Center is at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the North Dakota vs. Denver odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
North Dakota went 6-12 in league play. The Fighting Hawks did, however, go 5-2 over their last 7 games of the regular season. That stretch included an 86-63 home win over Denver on Feb. 9.
Denver downed UND 78-71 on its home court Jan. 14. The loss in game 2 was part of a late-season slide for the Pioneers, who were just 3-7 over their final 10 games of the season. Denver has been outdistanced by a mile on 3-pointers over that stretch, shooting 27.5% from beyond the arc and allowing a 36% mark.
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North Dakota vs. Denver odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:30 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: North Dakota -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Denver -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): North Dakota +1.5 (-115) | Denver -1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 149.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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North Dakota vs. Denver picks and predictions
Prediction
Denver 75, North Dakota 70
Moneyline
PASS.
The best leverage on a Denver lean is the ATS play.
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Against the spread
Denver is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings between these programs.
Denver is better at defending the perimeter than it has shown in recent games. That will be a big key in this contest as more than 44% of the UND offense comes from beyond the arc.
Give the Pioneers an edge in the paint and in projected points from the charity stripe. The Hawks are just 4-11 in road games and haven’t played on a neutral court all season.
TAKE DENVER -1.5 (-105).
Over/Under
Figure an above-average pace with plenty of combined shortcomings at both ends of the floor. No leverage here: AVOID.
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