Oregon State Beavers AT Montana Grizzlies
December 15th, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST
Opening Line: Montana -7
Current Line: Montana -8
Total: Undefined
Moneyline: Montana -335 / Oregon State +285
Both teams come into tonight with similar records. The favored Montana Grizzlies are 5-4 while the Oregon State Beavers are 4-4. Both teams have also won 3 of their last 5 games. Montana is coming off a 2 point loss to San Francisco on the road, and Oregon State last blew out Texas Pan-American by 20. Both teams also sport positive point differentials. Oregon State is +2.6, scoring 74.0 per game and giving up 71.4. Oregon State’s 74.0 points per game rank them 92nd overall in the nation. Montana is +10.1, scoring 68.7 points per game and giving up 58.6.
Oregon State has lost 11 of their last 15 games on the road, and Montana is 14-2 over their past 16 at home, so it is clear to see why college basketball handicappers have set the line favoring Montana by 8. Oregon State is 1-1 ATS this year and 1-0 at home ATS. Montana is 2-4 ATS and 1-2 on the road ATS.
Oregon State has a balanced scoring attack with 6 players averaging 8 or more a game, and their leading scorer 6’9″ senior forward Omari Johnson only averages 13.8 points per game. However, he is also their strongest interior player, pulling down 7.3 board a game and managing 2.4 steals a game. He already had a six steal game against Texas South, but the Beavers lost that game by 6 points, 66-60. Despite being a strong interior player, Omari also takes opponents outside the arc, stretching the offense. He is shooting 37.8% from three, 12 of 31 on the year. 6’4″ sophomore guard Jared Cunningham is also a gunner, averagin 11.8 points per game and shooting 38.9% from three (7 of 18). He has scored in double figures in 5 of Oregon State’s 8 games so far.
Montana is led by the trio of Will Cherry, Brian Qvale, and Derek Selvig who together score 56% of Montana’s 69 points per game. Their point guard 6’1″ sophomore guard Will Cherry leas the way with 15.3 points per game to go with his 3.7 assists per game. He is not a strong three point shooter, but shoots them anyway, and has connected only 6 of 30 for the year. He’s already had 3 games with 20 or more points, but scored just 8 lat game in the blowout loss to Nevada. He plays passing lanes very well and averages a great 4.1 steals per game. He will look to ignite fast breaks with his steals which could lead to some easy Montana buckets. 6’11” senior center Brian Qvale has been a strong interior presence and is having a great year, as well. He is second on Montana in scoring with 13.8 a game and is also grabbing 7.2 rebounds per game in 30 minutes of action. He is a great shotblocker, too, averaging 3.4 blocks a game. He will change a lot of shots and frusterate Oregon State’s Omari Johnson who seeks to take the ball to the rim a lot.
College basketball oddsmakers have set the line at Montana -8, and if they can get a lot of open threes, they could cover the spread. Oregon State’s poor play on the road is also a reason for the spread being what it is. If they can keep their composure they could make this a close game.
