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Bears vs Bobcats Picks and Predictions – Thursday January 1, 2026
Northern Colorado heads to Bozeman for a Big Sky conference game against Montana State on Thursday night at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Tip is set for 9:00 PM ET on ESPN+. This line is tight for a reason: Montana State has been strong at home, but Northern Colorado has traveled well and brings one of the more efficient offenses in the league into a true road environment.
Northern Colorado is 10-3 with a 5-2 road mark and just knocked off Colorado 86-81 with Quinn Denker exploding for 33 points. Montana State is coming off a blowout win and is 4-1 at home, so this is a classic spot where the market is weighing home-court stability versus the better shooting profile.
Northern Colorado Bears vs Montana State Bobcats Odds
These are the current lines, and bettors should keep monitoring updated college basketball odds leading into tip.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Colorado Bears | +122 | +2.5 (-107) | 149.5 |
| Montana State Bobcats | -151 | -2.5 (-120) | 149.5 |
Northern Colorado Bears Betting Form
Northern Colorado’s offense is the reason I’m interested in the dog here. The Bears are scoring 86.8 points per game and shooting 50.8% from the field, which is not just “hot for a week” production. It’s an efficiency base that travels because it doesn’t rely on one shot type. Add in 10.7 made threes per game and you’ve got a team that can erase small deficits quickly.
The win at Colorado matters for this matchup because it showed they can handle real athleticism without losing their structure. Denker’s 33 points was the headline, but the bigger thing is Northern Colorado still looked comfortable generating clean looks when the game tightened late. That’s a good sign in a short spread where the last four minutes decide it.
For recent results and splits, check Northern Colorado stats and results.
Montana State Bobcats Betting Form
Montana State’s home form is the main reason they’re laying points. They’re 4-1 at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, and they tend to play with more confidence there, especially defensively. The Bobcats are scoring 78.8 points per game and they can make threes in volume, which gives them a way to keep pace if Northern Colorado is cooking.
The matchup question is whether Montana State can force Northern Colorado into longer possessions and tougher shots. If they can keep the Bears out of early offense and make them finish over size at the rim, that’s where the Bobcats can create separation. They don’t need to win every possession. They just need to win enough of the “empty trip” battle to make the underdog chase.
For a deeper look at home splits and game logs, use Montana State schedule and stats.
Northern Colorado Bears vs Montana State Bobcats Matchup Breakdown
This is a shot quality game more than anything. Northern Colorado is efficient and comfortable shooting over the top when defenses go under, and that’s how road dogs stay alive. If the Bears are getting clean catch-and-shoot looks early, Montana State is going to have to tighten the perimeter and that opens up driving lanes and kickouts.
Montana State’s path is to make it more physical and more deliberate. At home, teams often get a little tighter offensively, and if the Bobcats can turn this into a half-court contest where every trip feels like work, they can leverage home-court energy and keep Northern Colorado from getting into rhythm.
The total at 149.5 sits in an interesting range. Northern Colorado’s scoring profile screams points, but a tight conference game can slow down naturally, especially if both teams are trading solid defensive possessions. The handicap comes down to whether the pace stays moderate or if shot-making pushes this into a run-and-answer type of game. If you want a quick refresher on how tempo and efficiency should influence your side and total decisions, the expert betting guide is a useful baseline.
Northern Colorado Bears vs Montana State Bobcats Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Northern Colorado +2.5. In a short number, I want the team that can score without needing everything to go perfectly, and Northern Colorado’s efficiency plus three-point volume gives them multiple ways to stay inside the spread. If this is close late, the Bears have already shown they can execute under pressure in a hostile spot.
Montana State can absolutely win this game. Home-court edge matters here, and if they’re the team getting better looks in the paint while Northern Colorado is settling for late-clock jumpers, the favorite can justify the price. But I don’t see a big gap between these teams, and the points matter.
On the total, I’m cautious. 149.5 is not a huge number relative to these offenses, but conference games can get sticky. I’d rather lead with the side, and then decide on the total based on how you expect pace to land.
Best Bet: Northern Colorado +2.5 (-107)
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
For more plays across the slate, start with the college basketball picks page, then bounce through the college basketball previews hub when you want quick matchup context game to game.
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