The NCAAB schedule is officially on Day 2, and for the Montana Grizzlies and Duquesne Dukes, that means their seasons are set to begin. Continue reading below to get our best Montana vs Duquesne Betting Picks and much more.
This game will not count in the conference college basketball standings for either team, but it will be an important measuring stick early in the season.
The litmus test is always important for teams looking to improve off last year.
Montana Grizzlies vs. Duquesne Dukes
Matchup Info
There are zero college basketball matchups to lean on between Montana and Duquesne. They will tip off for the first time at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Grizzlies return five players, including four with at least 18 starts, from an 18-14 season that included finishing fifth in the Big Sky with an 11-9 league record, winning the tiebreaker over Eastern Washington.
Duquesne returns two starters and two reserves from a disappointing 6-24 season that included a 1-16 Atlantic 10 record.
So it’s unsure how much those guys will play. Sixth-year coach Keith Dambrot returns to the Dukes hoping to turn it around.
Here’s a breakdown of each team before our Montana vs Duquesne betting picks.
Montana Grizzlies Performance Recap and Analysis
Returning three starters is a great deal of help for ninth-year coach Travis DeCuire. The Grizzlies were picked third in the Big Sky by the coaches and media, receiving a first-place vote in each poll.
The starting core will carry the way, especially early on.
Josh Bannan, a 6 foot 10 forward, was last year’s leading scorer and rebounder at 15.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
Brandon Whitney was third at 11.0 points per game, while Lonnell Martin III started 18 of the 32 games he appeared in and averaged 6.3 points per game.
Mack Anderson at the NCAAB Stats
Mack Anderson started all 25 games he played, averaging 3.8 points and 3.3 rebounds with 20 blocked shots, which was second on the team per NCAA basketball stats.
Returning that level of production is key, especially early in the season, to have that continuity and chemistry already.
That should bode well for a Montana squad that has a challenging nonconference schedule.As a team, they averaged 72.2 points per game with a shooting slash of .453/.349/.785.
The opponents scored 66.4 points per game against them.
Key Injuries
There are no college basketball injuries to report.
Betting Trends to Know
The Grizzlies closed 0-4 against the spread in their last four road games and 1-5 against the spread in their last six games overall.
The over is 9-2 in their games over the last 11 games, including 4-1 in their last five road games. Though a season ago, they were 4-10 straight up on the road.
Duquesne Dukes Performance Recap and Analysis
The Dukes had a rough go of it during the 2021-22 season. They got off to a 5-7 start, including a victory against two-time Missouri Valley Conference tournament champion Bradley, before having four games either canceled or postponed.
After winning the first game after a few weeks off, the Dukes lost 17 straight games. They averaged 65.2 points per game on shooting slashes of .403/.305/.707. They also allowed 73.4 points per game.
Roster Turnover
But this is a different group with plenty of roster turnover. Expect sizable forward Tre Williams, a former Indiana State transfer, to continue to start.
At 6 foot 7, 250 pounds, he truly packs a punch in the paint and gives them a go-to option on offense.
But expect a hint of a large freshmen class to get some playing time early while the veteran transfers also get some run.
A Tough Start
It’s hard to project with no exhibition data on lineups, which could mean a tough start for a group with little experience playing together.
Duquesne was voted to finish last, though only one point behind La Salle in the preseason Atlantic 10 poll.
Key Injuries
There are no college basketball injuries to report.
Betting Trends to Know
The Dukes were 2-14 against the spread in their last 16 home games and 4-13 against the spread in their last 17 games, regardless of location. The under is 7-1 in the Dukes’ last eight home games.
Of their six wins last season, three were at home, and two were on a neutral court.
Montana Grizzlies vs. Duquesne Dukes Odds
Montana Grizzlies odds are +5.5 (-110) with an attractive +202 on the moneyline. The over/under is 137.5 points with -110 odds in either direction.
Duquesne Dukes odds are -5.5 (-110) and -250 on the moneyline.
Montana Grizzlies vs. Duquesne Dukes Betting Picks
Moneyline
The first of our Montana vs Duquesne betting picks is fairly easy. We’re taking Montana +202. The Grizzlies appear to be the better team, though not necessarily more talented.
One thing to consider is the quality of the Atlantic 10, which attracts better athletes, on average, than most leagues.
NCAAB Pick: Montana (+202)
Over/Under
There may not be a lot of points scored between these two NCAAB teams. Their season averages were right around the 137.5 mark that is set. We’ll take a slow shooting performance and go under 137.5.
NCAAB Pick: Under 135 (-110)
Spread
If we’re taking the Montana moneyline, we’re also taking them +5.5 (-110).
NCAAB Pick: Montana +5.5 (-110)
Montana Grizzlies vs. Duquesne Dukes Score Prediction
On the surface, Montana vs Duquesne betting picks seem pretty standard, but the Grizzlies’ road record a season ago is somewhat bothersome.
Then again, they are more experienced and have played well together against similar opponents.
NCAAB Pick: Montana 72, Duquesne 59
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