Northern Colorado Bears vs Montana Grizzlies Picks and Predictions for Monday March 9 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/09/2026, 12:15 AM ET

The Northern Colorado Bears face the Montana Grizzlies in the Big Sky Championship – 3rd Round on Monday March 9, 2026 at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho. The game tips off at 7:30 PM ET and will be broadcast on ESPN+. At the time of this writing the moneyline, total, and spread odds were not released. For more tournament analysis and daily betting insights, check out our free college basketball picks.

Bears Enter Tournament Round with Strong Offense

The Northern Colorado Bears come into this matchup with a 20-11 overall record and finished conference play at 10-8 in the Big Sky. In their last five games the Bears recently won over Montana 85-57, recently won over Idaho 76-67, recently lost to Eastern Washington 82-72, recently won over Northern Arizona 78-77, and recently won over Portland State 77-65.

Northern Colorado averages 82.3 points per game while allowing 75.9 points per contest. They shoot an impressive 49 percent from the field and average 36.7 rebounds along with 16.6 assists per game, which shows their ability to move the ball efficiently.

The Bears’ offensive efficiency is one of their biggest strengths, as their 49 percent shooting percentage ranks among the best in their conference. When Northern Colorado is able to dictate tempo and create open looks, they become extremely difficult for opponents to defend.

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Grizzlies Seeking Redemption in Tournament Rematch

The Montana Grizzlies enter the Big Sky Championship round with a 16-15 overall record and also finished 10-8 in conference play. Their last five games include recently lost to Northern Colorado 85-57, recently won over Portland State 74-68, recently won over Sacramento State 81-73, recently lost to Weber State 92-72, and recently lost to Idaho State 73-69.

Montana averages 77.1 points per game while allowing 74.1 points per contest. They shoot 49 percent from the field while averaging 34.5 rebounds and 15.3 assists per game, showing that they also operate an efficient offensive system.

One area the Grizzlies will need to improve in this matchup is defensive consistency. Their recent loss to Northern Colorado by nearly thirty points highlights how dangerous the Bears’ offense can be when given space to score.

Northern Colorado vs Montana Pick

Pick: Northern Colorado Spread

Northern Colorado already showed its ability to dominate this matchup with a convincing win over Montana recently. Their high scoring offense and efficient shooting give them the edge, especially if they control tempo early in the game.

Northern Colorado vs Montana Total Pick

Pick: Over

I like the over here because both teams shoot close to 49 percent from the field and average well over 75 points per game. With two efficient offenses facing each other, I expect plenty of scoring opportunities.

Final Score Prediction: Northern Colorado 84, Montana 76

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