The Northwestern Wildcats are in the bracket March Madness for the second time in program history after finishing 21-11 and second in the Big Ten college basketball standings. Yet they received a seven seed and a tough draw in the Boise State Broncos, who were 24-9 and received an at-large bid for their ninth tournament appearance and second straight.
It is one of the season’s best times, with so many NCAA basketball games today and plenty of overlap. Before solidifying a Boise State vs Northwestern prediction, here is all the important information.
Boise State Broncos vs. Northwestern Wildcats Odds
Boise State Broncos vs. Northwestern Wildcats Information
Boise State Broncos vs Northwestern Wildcats
Location: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA.
Date and Time: Thursday, March 16, 2023, 7:35 PM ET.
How to Watch: TruTV | https://livestreamsports.co/
Updates for Boise State Broncos vs. Northwestern Wildcats
This is the first meeting between the two NCAA basketball teams. The Wildcats received tough news that reserve guard Julian Roper II would miss the postseason with an ankle injury.
Boise State’s lone entry to the college basketball injury report is reserve guard Sadraque NgaNga, who is questionable with an illness. Neither should impact our Boise State vs Northwestern prediction nor the teams’ odds of winning March Madness.
Boise State Broncos vs. Northwestern Wildcats Betting Preview
The NCAAB odds show 1.5 points favor Northwestern with -110 odds on either side of that line. The over/under is 128 points with -110 odds on either side. Boise State’s implied team total of 63.5 and Northwestern’s of 65 carry -115 odds on either side of those numbers.
The Wildcats have had a tough finish to the season. They lost three of their last four games on the NCAAB schedule and eked out a two-point win at Rutgers to salvage second place in the league. They are an elite defensive team, though, ranking 20th in holding teams to 62.3 points per game; 45th in holding teams to 41.2% from the field, and 181st at 33.9% on 3-point shots.
Offensively, they are 290th in scoring 67.7 points per game, 341st in making 40.9% of field goal attempts, and 292nd in making 32.3% of 3-point shots, though they are 54th with a 74.9% rate at the free throw line. Two college basketball players make the Wildcats go in Boo Buie and Chase Audige, who are excellent on both ends of the court.
The Wildcats were 19-13 against the spread and 12-19-1 on over/under. They were 7-4 straight up on the road but 1-2 in neutral court games. As a favorite, they were 7-8 against the spread.
Boise State’s Betting Performance and Offensive Stats
Boise State, meanwhile, was 16-14-2 against the spread and 16-16 on over/under.
The Broncos were 5-6 straight up on the road and 5-2 on neutral courts. They were 7-3-1 against the spread as underdogs.
The Broncos were better offensively, though their strength of schedule was 20 spots behind Northwestern’s, according to KenPom. The Broncos were 171st in scoring 72.1 points per game, 136th in making 45.5% of field goal attempts, and 73rd in making 36.2% of 3-point shots.
Defensively, they were 32nd in holding teams to 63.7 points per game, 46th in limiting them to 41.2% of field goal attempts, and 20th at holding them to 30.2% from 3-point range.
Boise State Broncos vs. Northwestern Wildcats Betting Prediction
Those who made college basketball picks today have had 63% pick Northwestern to cover the spread and 51% on the under. The under is 8-2-1 in Northwestern’s last 11 games.
For those betting on March Madness, another thing to consider is Northwestern had to travel over 2,000 miles compared to Boise State’s much shorter 553 miles – even though they both flew.
Our Boise State vs Northwestern prediction is that the Broncos will cover +1.5 and win outright. The travel can wear on everyday humans, let alone a team that prides itself on the defensive end.
- BETTING PICK: Boise State 66, Northwestern 61
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