The Big Sky Conference tournament continues Wednesday night with a championship showdown between Idaho and Montana at Idaho Central Arena in Boise. Both teams have looked excellent in this tournament so far, but only one of them will claim the title and the league’s automatic bid to this year’s NCAA Tournament. Find out who I think that will be right here, as I make my Idaho vs Montana prediction.
Our Idaho vs Montana Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Idaho Vandals vs Montana Grizzlies
- Date & Time: Wednesday, March 11, 11:30 PM ET
- Venue: Idaho Central Arena, Boise, Idaho
- Broadcast: ESPN2
Key Storylines
Idaho enters this contest with one of the more productive offenses in the conference, averaging nearly 79 points per game while shooting over 44% from the field. Their recent tournament win against Montana State showed their ability to close out tight games. That performance included timely perimeter shooting and strong ball movement late in the game.
Montana also brings scoring ability, averaging just under 78 points per game while shooting nearly 49% from the floor. Their offensive efficiency has been impressive throughout the season, and they have proven capable of controlling tempo against several conference opponents. Montana’s ability to score efficiently in the half-court has been a key factor in many of its wins.
This matchup also carries some history. Montana defeated Idaho in last year’s conference tournament by a wide margin, so the Vandals will be eager to reverse that outcome. Revenge motivation combined with Idaho’s recent form makes this a fascinating clash between two evenly matched teams.
Key Players
Montana
- Te’Jon Sawyer is leading his team in rebounding, keeping the Grizzlies efficient in the half-court.
- Money Williams might have the best name in college basketball. He also averages over 20 points per game for the Grizzlies, who will depend heavily on him to create their offense in the biggest game of their season so far.
Idaho
- Jackson Rasmussen has been one of Idaho’s most reliable scorers. His ability to score in bunches has been opening up scoring lanes for teammates.
- Kolton Mitchell provides just under four assists per game to lead the Vandals.
- Christian King delivered a key three-point shot late in Idaho’s recent tournament win and has emerged as a clutch perimeter option.
Stat Comparison
| Stat | Idaho | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 78.7 | 77.6 |
| Points allowed per game | 72.8 | 74.5 |
| Team Field Goal % | 45% | 49% |
| Rebounds Per Game | 37.3 | 34.6 |
| Assists Per Game | 12.7 | 15.1 |
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Montana is 2-0 against Idaho this season.
- Idaho is 15-16 against the spread entering the Big Sky title game.
- Montana has a 15-14 record against the spread going into Wednesday night.
Idaho vs Montana Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
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