San José State Spartans (5-4) vs. North Dakota State Bison (4-4)
San José State Spartans vs. North Dakota State Bison 12/4/23 – The San José State Spartans (5-4) take on the North Dakota State Bison (4-4) on Monday night in a non-conference NCAAB showdown. With both teams hovering around .500, this game provides an opportunity to get above that mark. Let’s analyze the stats and trends to make some smart NCAAB free insights.
The Spartans have struggled on the road with a 2-9 record in their last 11 away contests. However, they have performed well against the spread recently, going 10-5 ATS in their previous 15 matchups overall. San José State is led by forward Tibet Gorener, who is averaging 13.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 40.8% from the field. If Gorener can exploit his matchup in the paint, it would give the Spartans a crucial edge.
Meanwhile, the Bison have really struggled against quality opponents with an 0-7 record in their last 7 games against Mountain West foes. Their defense has also been lacking lately, with the total going over in 4 of their past 6 matchups. Still, North Dakota State has defended its home court well with a stellar 6-0 mark at the Scheels Center this year. Guard Boden Skunberg paces the Bison offense with 15.6 points per game on 41.7% shooting. His ability to stretch the floor with a 38.2% mark from three will test the Spartans perimeter defense.
San José State Spartans vs. North Dakota State Bison 12/4/23 Game Info
| When: | Monday, December 4, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Scheels Center |
| TV: | |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Tibet Gorener (Forward) vs. Boden Skunberg (Guard)
Gorener has been the most reliable option for the Spartans this season, leading the team in both scoring and rebounding. His physicality inside and ability to convert second-chance opportunities is a big factor for this offense. Gorener shoots a stellar 70.4% from the free throw line as well. He does turn the ball over more than you’d like, so being smarter with his passes against the Bison’s aggressive defense will be key. If Gorener can control the glass, he should be able to neutralize North Dakota State’s home court advantage.
As for Skunberg, he has assumed lead scoring duties for the Bison while shooting at an efficient clip from all over the floor. In addition to his team-best 15.6 points, Skunberg chips in 5.3 boards and 1.4 assists too. His 38.2% three-point shooting makes him a constant threat to pull up from outside. Skunberg has struggled with turnovers though, coughing it up 2.1 times per game. He will have his hands full against the lengthy Gorener inside while also chasing Spartan guards over screens. Expect the Bison to run plenty of sets for Skunberg as their top offensive option.
This matchup pits Gorener’s interior dominance against Skunberg’s perimeter scoring prowess. Whichever player can slow down their opponent better while still producing their normal offensive numbers will go a long way in deciding this outcome. If Gorener controls the glass and Skunberg goes cold from deep, advantage Spartans. But if Skunberg has the hot hand while Gorener battles foul trouble, the Bison could protect their home court once again.
NCAAB Odds/Point Spread: North Dakota State Bison -122, Total Odds: 137.5
The betting odds indicate a close game, with the Bison slightly favored. The point spread of -1.5 for the Bison and the total odds set at 137.5 suggest expectations of a competitive and moderately high-scoring game.
San José State Spartans Betting Trends
The Spartans check several key situational betting boxes for this matchup. They are 6-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last 7 December games and have gone under the total in 5 of their previous 7 Monday contests. However, San Jose State is just 1-8 straight up in their last 9 Monday road games which counters those other positive trends. Relying on Gorener’s interior play and holding North Dakota State under their 75 PPG average appears to be the Spartans’ path to covering this small spread.
North Dakota State Bison Betting Trends
By contrast, the betting trends do not look kindly on the Bison here. North Dakota State is 1-6 ATS over their last 7 December games and have failed to cover in 4 of their previous 5 matchups overall. The Bison are also 0-7 straight up versus Mountain West opponents lately. Their lone bright spot is a strong 6-0 home record, although even that dominance hasn’t always translated to ATS covers. The Bison will need one of their better defensive showings of the year to avoid a trend-based fate.
San José State Spartans vs. North Dakota State Bison 12/4/23 Betting Picks
Considering the trends and performance of both teams, this game could be tighter than the odds suggest. The Spartans’ ability to perform against the spread, combined with the Bison’s home record, makes for a potentially close contest.
For premium parlays, the Spartans might be the better pick against the spread, given their recent ATS success. The total points are harder to predict, but considering both teams’ scoring abilities, the over on 137.5 could be a viable option.
Free Pick and Prediction: North Dakota State Bison 71, San José State Spartans 70