The Denver Pioneers (12-10, 3-6 Summit) attempt to knock off the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (17-4, 8-0) in Tulsa Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the UCLA vs. USC odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Denver comes into this matchup off a 76-61 loss to South Dakota State Saturday. The Pioneers, who came in as 10-point underdogs, failed to cover the spread against the better team in the Jack Rabbits.
At 74.5 points per game, the Pioneers offense matches up good against an Oral Roberts defense that allows 72.1 points per game – good for 260th in the nation. The issue the Pioneers will need to fix, and the Golden Eagles will be able to take advantage of, is on the other end of the court.
Denver ranks 326th in team defense at 75.5 points per game. Oral Roberts and its fast-paced offense ranks 7th in the country averaging 84.2 points a game. The Golden Eagles are lethal from the field with a 47.8 FG%, and this, along with the terrible Pioneers defense will allow Oral Roberts to score early and often.
Rankings courtesy the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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Denver at Oral Roberts odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:45 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Denver +900 (bet $100 to win $900) | Oral Roberts -3000 (bet $3,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Denver +19.5 (-110) | Oral Roberts -19.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 156.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Denver at Oral Roberts picks and predictions
Prediction
Oral Roberts 91, Denver 75
Moneyline
Oral Roberts and its undefeated conference record will be playing this game at home against an overmatched team. However, you can’t risk -3000 on any wager.
PASS.
Against the spread
DENVER +19.5 (-110) is the side to wager.
The previous game in this series ended 80-62 in late December. This came in the Pioneers’ home arena where scores remain low due to altitude. With this game being played in Tulsa, points will be easily scored on both sides, and 20 points is too high for this type of up-and-down game.
Denver will not keep it close. But it will keep it within the 19.5-point spread here.
Over/Under
OVER 156.5 (-115) is the total side to play.
Not only does Oral Roberts score 84.2 points per game. but it will be facing the 326th-ranked defense in the nation in Denver that allows 75.5 points on average. The Pioneers are also able to score at 74.5 points and are 7th in FG% shooting at 50% from the field. The Pioneers will also be able to score against the 260th-ranked defense in Oral Roberts. Expect a lot of trips down the floor and a lot of points to be had. Although this is a high total, it deserves it. The Over is still the right side.
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