The Northern Kentucky Norse (21-12) and Cleveland State Vikings (21-12) meet Tuesday in the Horizon League Tournament Championship Game with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line. Tip from Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis is at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Northern Kentucky vs. Cleveland State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Northern Kentucky, the 4-seed, picked up an 81-74 win over Oakland in the quarterfinals a 6.5-point favorite Thursday. NKU then set its sights on 1-seed Youngstown State and knocked it off with a 75-63 victory as a 3-point underdog Monday. The Norse avenged an 18-point loss at Youngstown on Feb. 4 to move 1 step closer to the Big Dance.
NKU has won 6 of the past 7 games overall and has covered the spread in all 7 out. However, that lone straight-up loss came at Cleveland State on Feb. 19 by a 64-63 score as the Under (129) cashed.
Northern Kentucky topped Cleveland State 57-56 on Jan. 19 as a 5-point home favorite as the Under (126.5) connected.
The Vikings topped Robert Morris 75-70 in OT in the quarterfinals Thursday, although they failed to cover as 6-point favories. Cleveland State took out its aggression on Milwaukee Monday, blasting the Panthers 93-80 as a 2.5-point favorite. The Over cashed in both tourney games.
Despite the cover against Milwaukee, Cleveland State is just 1-4 against the spread in the past 5 games overall. The Vikings have hit the Over in 4 straight, and 11 of the past 13 outings.
NKU is looking to make its 3rd-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament, appearing in 2017 and 2019.
Cleveland State is trying to make the NCAA Tournament for the 4th time, and 2nd time in the past 3 seasons. The Vikings have 3 wins in 6 NCAA Tournament games, including a Sweet Sixteen run in 1986.
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Northern Kentucky vs. Cleveland State odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Northern Kentucky -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Cleveland State -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Northern Kentucky -1.5 (+100) | Cleveland State +1.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 128.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Northern Kentucky vs. Cleveland State picks and predictions
Prediction
Cleveland State 64, Northern Kentucky 62
Moneyline
CLEVELAND STATE (-110) is worth a look as a short ‘dog in Indy. These teams played a pair of 1-point games in the regular season, each winning on their home court. It will be interesting to see if things are as tight on a neutral floor, but it is certainly likely.
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Against the spread
The play is CLEVELAND STATE +1.5 (-120).
Northern Kentucky has covered in 7 straight games and is 14-6 ATS in its last 20 neutral site games. NKU is 17-6 ATS in the past 23 games against winning teams, too. This won’t be a very easy game if you’re backing the Vikings.
However, Cleveland State is a solid 8-3 ATS in the past 11 neutral-site games and has cashed at a 7-2 ATS mark in the past 9 against winning teams. The underdog is 3-1-1 ATS in the past 5 meetings between these programs, too. Playing Cleveland State straight up is a slightly better value, but you can take the point and a half if you believe strongly that we’ll get a 3rd straight 1-point game between these teams.
Over/Under
UNDER 128.5 (-110) is worth a look, although go with a half-unit play at best. This is an awfully low number.
Still, we saw a total of just 127 points in the most recent meeting between these teams in Cleveland on Feb. 19, while we had a total of just 113 points in the Jan. 19 battle at Truist Arena in Newport.
It’s been all about the Over for Cleveland State lately, but not when facing NKU. The Under is 12-4 in the past 16 games for the Norse after a win and 9-3 in the past 12 following a cover.
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