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Horse Racing NCAA Basketball Thursday Best Bets: A Day in Big Sky Country
NCAA Basketball Thursday Best Bets: Thursday, February 9th
Our resident college hoops pundit Ej Garr is headed to Big Sky country, a place he is all too familiar with being a Montana State alumni. We’re expecting him to know his alma mater well enough to give us the details and stats so a hot tip hits the bettingexpert board today. With an additional play from a match in Conference USA, it’s time to take the court and dish out the dimes.
In this article:
- North Texas Mean Green vs UAB Blazers Preview
- North Texas Mean Green vs UAB Blazers Best Bet
- Weber State Wildcats vs Montana State Bobcats Preview
- Weber State Wildcats vs Montana State Bobcats Best Bet
North Texas Mean Green vs UAB Blazers Preview
February 10, 01:00 (UK time)
A pair of teams riding 4-game win streaks clash at the UNT Coliseum on Thursday, and second place in the Conference USA table is on the line. While both teams are chasing Florida Atlantic University, the winner of this affair will put themselves that much closer to the top spot.
North Texas has already handed the Blazers a loss on January 21, 73 – 62, which was a home game for UAB. A Mean Green win at home tonight can build separation from both UAB and Middle Tennessee who are 2 games behind North Texas coming into this game.
I am not sure why the line setters are trying to point folks to a close game, much less an upset because the Mean Green are taking down UAB for the second time this campaign. I assume the oddsmakers want to give those underdog thinkers enough room to take UAB outright.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am usually one of those underdog thinkers, but I don’t see UAB winning this game on Thursday night. Call it a hunch, which all of this is, but that defense of the Mean Green is so strong and able to change the outcome of games. We know the phrase defense wins Championships and the Mean Green is going to use it to their advantage again tonight. Ranked 2nd in all of NCAA hoops programs, North Texas only allows 55.1 points a night while also ranking 7th in the nation on the defensive glass. That is a combination worth investing in, and I think UAB will have runs of time without a single point on the board.
This total at 128.5 might not even come close to that number, as I see a 63 – 57 home win coming at the UNT Coliseum which scrapes 120. The UAB offense is certainly one to deal with, and the 81.9 points per game have them ranked 14th in scoring.
It will be a battle of defense vs offense but this home team usually sets its feet in the sand when they need a big result. Tylor Perry had one of his worst outings since his 2-point effort against Nebraska Omaha in the last game against Rice. With only 9 points it broke a string of 19 straight games achieving double-digits. I assume he will be fired up to get that streak started again toward the Conference USA tournament.
North Texas Mean Green vs UAB Blazers Best Bet
As I said, the Mean Green is going to win this game 63 – 57, so grab that -2 handicap offer and consider a play on the Under 128.5.
- Selection: North Texas -2
- Best odds: 1.91 (Pinnacle)
- Stakes: 4/10
More North Texas Mean Green vs UAB Blazers Tips
Weber State Wildcats vs Montana State Bobcats Preview
February 10, 02:00 (UK time)
I went to college in Connecticut and finished up at Montana State way back in 1991, so yeah, I am old! HA! Naturally, I follow my boys’ matches inside and out to be sure I am always up on my Bobcats, and when I saw this line of -3 I knew I was getting to mention them today.
The Bobcats have found wins from nine of their last ten games, with their last loss coming against Big Sky Conference leaders Eastern Washington who has run the table thus far undefeated in conference play (12 – 0). My Cats lost a 70 – 67 affair to EWU and they will finish up the regular season in Eastern Washington to boot.
Montana State is clinging to the 2-seed in the Big Sky Conference table, and I expect this win tonight which will improve their conference record to 11 – 2 and 18 – 8 overall. Pretty good, baby, and this Bobcats’ win will also put Weber State’s 3rd spot in jeopardy in the Big Sky table currently at 7 – 4 and headed to a fifth loss tonight.
Yes, I am that confident that the Bobcats are going to cover this -3 on the handicap because Weber State can’t slow down anyone and the Cats are grooving on offense right now. The rankings tell you some of the stories, as the Wildcats rank 294th allowing teams to convert 45.3% of their shots, and their offense can’t keep pace. The 66.4 points per game leave them far back at 318th in the country, which means about 15 teams can do worse than them.
Raequan Battle has a 9-game streak of double-digit efforts coming into this game, and his 82.6% from the free throw line tells you he has confidence at the charity stripe when the game is on the line. Battle put up a pedestrian 12 points in the first meeting with Weber State, a game that the Bobcats won convincingly at home, 67 – 52.
The other big factor you need to take into account is the ability of Jubrile Belo. The 4th-year stud is coming off a 19-point effort last time on the floor, and he has accumulated five double-doubles this campaign after scoring 19 & 10 the game before against NAU.
Belo will have plenty of success inside and out and he will take over this game from time to time to ensure the Bobcats escape with their 6th straight win.
Weber State Wildcats vs Montana State Bobcats Best Bet
This is how well I know my Big Sky hoops.
A 72 – 64 road win for the Bobcats will be happening, which will get us a handful of points in our pockets to cover the handicap offer of -3.
- Selection: Montana State -3
- Best odds: 1.93 (Pinnacle)
- Stakes: 4/10
Odds as of 9:00 am February 9, 2023. Odds may now differ.
More Weber State Wildcats vs Montana State Bobcats Tips
