North Dakota vs. South Dakota - 2/8/20 College Basketball Pick, Odds, and Prediction
Photo by Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
South Dakota Coyotes (17-8) at North Dakota Fighting Hawks (11-13)
College Basketball: Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 3:00 pm (Betty Engelstad Sioux Center)
The Line: North Dakota Fighting Hawks +2 -- Over/Under: 155.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The South Dakota Coyotes will travel to the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center to take on the North Dakota Fighting Hawks this Saturday afternoon in College Basketball action.
The South Dakota Coyotes have won six straight games and improved to 17-8 (8-2 Summit) on the season after dismantling the Peru State College Bobcats 106-45. The game was never close as the Coyotes opened up a 27-10 lead with 9:27 remaining in the first half and built that lead up to 48-20 at the half. The Coyotes dominated through the rest of the game, shooting an impressive 67.2% from the field, including 43.3% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for South Dakota was Cody Kelley who had 27 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 7 steals.
On the season, South Dakota has averaged 79.9 points per game on 49.4% shooting from the field. The Coyotes are also averaging 7.7 three-pointers per game on 40.6% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, South Dakota has been led by Tyler Hagedorn (19.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.9 apg), Stanley Umude (16.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg) and Cody Kelley (11.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.0 apg).
Defensively, South Dakota is allowing their opponents to average 73.5 points per game on 45.5% shooting from the field. The Coyotes have a rebound margin of 0.8 and a turnover margin of 1.0.
The North Dakota Fighting Hawks improved to 11-13 (5-5 Summit) on the season after defeating the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, 74-68, this past Thursday night. North Dakota was outstanding offensively agianst Oral Roberts and was able to pull away late for the victory. North Dakota held Oral Roberts to just 26.7% shooting from beyond the arc while the Fighting Hawks shot 48.1% from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc in the victory. Leading the way for the Fighting Hawks was Marlon Stewart who had 20 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists.
On the season, North Dakota is averaging 75.5 ppg on 46.1% shooting from the field. The Fighting Hawks are averaging 8.0 three-pointers per game on 34.7% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, North Dakota has been led by Marlon Stewart (17.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.1 apg), De’Sean Allen-Eikens (14.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.2 apg), and Filip Rebraca (13.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.2 bpg).
Defensively, North Dakota is allowing their opponents to average 73.5 ppg on 44.6% shooting from the field. The Fighting Hawks have a rebound margin of 3.8 and a turnover margin of -2.7.
The Coyotes are just 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games as a road favorite, however, are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The Fighting Hawks are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600 and just 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
South Dakota have won 8 of their last 9 games and have been led by their explosive offensive that ranks 18th in scoring offense, 6th in FG%, and 4th in 3P-FG%.
North Dakota has lost 5 of their last 8 games and although their offense has had success putting up points, ranking 73rd in scoring offense & 56th in FG%, the Fighting Hawks have struggled defensively and currently rank just T-279th in scoring defense.
South Dakota is the better team on both ends of the court and despite the fact that North Dakota has an impressive 7-1 record at home this season, I think the Coyotes offense will be too much for the Fighting Hawks to handle and that South Dakota does enough to cover this small road spread. Good Luck.
Brett’s Pick South Dakota Coyotes -2
AUTHOR: Brett Nault
