The main actors of tonight's March 20th game at UD Arena for one of the First Four games of the NCAA Tournament are the Grambling State Tigers and Montana State Bobcats.
The winner will face the Purdue Boilermakers in the next round of March Madness. Bookie apps lean toward the Bobcats as 3.5-point favorites for this matchup, the first encounter between these two programs in Division I basketball.
As these teams head to this matchup with completely healthy rosters, it's time to examine the odds for a BetMGM sports promo code.
The Tigers’ Defense Is Potent
The Tigers are starting their March Madness story this season as the winning team from the championship game in the SWAC after they outscored Texas Southern 75-66 on Saturday. The Tigers' final score before starting their NCAA tournament journey is an overall record of 20-14 and 14-4 within the SWAC.
This is not a team that showers opponents with points. It averaged 67.8 points in the regular season, shooting 44.1% from the floor and 32.6% from three-point land and typically scoring 5.2 times per night from beyond the arc. Grambling State is not taking advantage of its opportunities from the charity line, netting only 70.6% of its free throw attempts this season.
The most productive players with double-digit points are Kintavious Dozier, with 13.1 points, Tra'Michael Moton, with 11.8 points, and Antwan Burnett, who scores 10.1 points per contest.
Defensively, Grambling allows 69 points per game and is solid under the boards, averaging 32.2 rebounds per night. The team is on a roll, having won three games straight, and its defense has improved lately.
The Bobcats Play Offense Resolutely
The Bobcats surprised after winning the championship game of the Big Sky Tournament, beating Montana 85-70 as an underdog on Wednesday. Now, they face a new challenge, but this time around, the Bobcats are the favorite. Montana State is riding a winning streak, triumphing in four straight. It concluded the regular season with a 17-17 overall record and a 9-9 record in the Big Sky conference.
Offensively, the Bobcats are productive, scoring 75.1 points per game, shooting 46.1% overall and 36.5% from beyond the arc, and making nine 3-pointers per night. Their rebounding is average, with 30.6 boards per night, and the percentage at the charity stripe is slightly better than the Tigers', converting 73.3% of attempts.
The lead scorer on the roster is Robert Ford III, who averages 15.9 points per contest. Brian Goracke contributes 13.5 points, and Brandon Walker averages 13 points per game. On the defensive side, the Bobcats are less intimidating than the Tigers, allowing 74.1 points a game. Montana State's offense confidence can compensate for their defensive deficiencies.
Betting Prediction
Both teams hit a hot streak as the season wrapped up and are now in the first phases of the NCAA Tournament. Montana State can put up more points and has been consistently doing that throughout the season, which is the reason for the -185 odds on a moneyline bet, while their opponents, the Tigers, assume the underdog role with +150 odds on the same wager.
The 3.5-point spread from betting apps receives -115 odds on Montana State to cover and -105 odds on Grambling State to cover. The total is 134.5 points, with a -115 betting line for the Over and -105 odds for the Under. The Tigers are better defensively, while the Bobcats are more confident offensively, balancing each other out, which will make for an interesting matchup.
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