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North Dakota heads to Denver to face the Denver Pioneers on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET at Hamilton Gymnasium. It’s a Summit League matchup with Denver favored by 4.5. North Dakota comes in 11-12 with a 4-6 road record, while Denver is 9-12 but has been notably better at home at 6-3.
This line makes sense when you look at styles. Both teams can score, Denver in particular, and the total is up at 162.5. That’s a big number, and it’s basically saying we’re in for a track meet. The side handicap is whether North Dakota’s recent form carries over, or if Denver’s shooting and home comfort creates clean separation.
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North Dakota Fighting Hawks vs Denver Pioneers Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers and shop for the best number on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota Fighting Hawks | +156 | +4.5 (-114) | O 162.5 (-112) |
| Denver Pioneers | -197 | -4.5 (-109) | U 162.5 (-112) |
North Dakota Fighting Hawks Betting Form
North Dakota is coming off a strong 79-62 win over Oral Roberts, and it wasn’t a fluky one. Eli King filled the box score and Zach Kraft was extremely efficient, which is the kind of performance that travels if the shot quality stays consistent. North Dakota averages 77 points per game and takes a healthy volume of shots, which matters in a game that’s likely to have a lot of possessions.
The three-point angle is the swing factor. North Dakota makes 8.1 threes per game, and if they’re getting those looks without having to force them, they can stay attached to Denver’s offense. The recent stretch is encouraging too, with two wins in the last three and a convincing win over South Dakota. The drawback is that North Dakota isn’t the type of team that can survive long empty stretches against Denver. If they go cold for three or four minutes, Denver can turn that into a 10-point gap fast.
If you want to track how North Dakota has been performing and how their recent results compare across opponents, the North Dakota stats and results hub is a quick reference point.
Denver Pioneers Betting Form
Denver just lost 82-77 to North Dakota State, but the offense was still there. Carson Johnson and Zane Nelson combining for 41 points tells you Denver’s scoring is real and it doesn’t always need a perfect team shooting night. The profile supports that. Denver averages 84.0 points per game, shoots 48.6% from the field, and hits 38.4% from three. That’s an elite perimeter number in college basketball terms, and it’s a big reason Denver can be favored even with a losing record.
At home, Denver is 6-3, and the shooting tends to play better in this gym. In a matchup with a high total, home shooting comfort matters. If Denver is making threes early, it forces North Dakota to chase and it opens up everything else. The concern for Denver backers is that when this team doesn’t get stops, it can turn into a trading game where -4.5 becomes harder to cover because the underdog can hang around with shot-making.
North Dakota Fighting Hawks vs Denver Pioneers Matchup Breakdown
This looks like a pace-friendly game. Denver’s offense is built on efficient shot-making, and North Dakota is willing to take shots and can hit enough threes to keep up. The key is which team is getting clean looks. Denver’s 38.4% three-point shooting suggests it can win the efficiency battle from deep. North Dakota’s counter is volume and balance. If they’re getting to the rim enough to complement the threes, they can keep Denver from simply winning by math.
The total at 162.5 is high, but it’s not crazy if Denver is doing its normal thing and North Dakota contributes. Still, totals like this often come down to whether the underdog can score efficiently for 40 minutes. If North Dakota is stuck in the low 70s, the Over needs Denver to push into the high 80s. That’s possible, but it’s not automatic. There’s also a Summit League-specific wrinkle: if one team gets a lead, possessions can slow and you can get a bunch of half-court trips late. That’s why I don’t treat 162.5 like a free Over just because both teams have offensive numbers.
Altitude and travel is worth a quick note. Teams can fade late in Denver if they play at a high tempo, and that can shift late-game efficiency and free throws. It’s not the whole handicap, but it’s part of why I’m cautious about assuming both teams shoot well for 40 minutes. The sports betting strategy guide has a good framework for thinking about how game state changes totals, especially in high totals where one cold stretch swings everything.
North Dakota Fighting Hawks vs Denver Pioneers Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Denver -4.5. The shooting profile is the separator, and Denver’s home record suggests the offense is more reliable here. North Dakota is in decent form and can absolutely win if it controls the three-point variance, but I trust Denver’s ability to generate efficient looks more consistently, especially at home.
On the total, I lean Under 162.5. It’s a number that requires both teams to be efficient, and that’s asking a lot in a conference game where the second half often gets more physical and more deliberate. If Denver gets a lead, it can slow the game naturally. If North Dakota stays close, you still might not get the possessions you need unless both teams are scoring at a high clip every trip. I’d rather be slightly contrarian on a big total than chase an Over that needs a near-perfect script.
Best Bet: Denver Pioneers -4.5 (-109).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
High totals and mid-range spreads in smaller conferences are where bettors can get trapped by surface-level points per game. The better approach is comparing multiple matchups and looking for the cleanest edge, whether that’s tempo control, shooting profile, or home-road splits.
ScoresAndStats helps with that, starting with today’s college basketball picks so you can compare sides and totals across the slate. And if you’re jumping between games and want one hub for schedules, records, and team context, the NCAAB teams page keeps it organized.
