Boise State guard RayJ Dennis (10) dishes off past Houston guard Caleb Mills (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
- Boise State is a 4-point favorite over Nevada on Friday (Feb. 5th, 9 pm EST)
- The Broncos have won 13 of their last 14, while the Wolf Pack are fresh off back-to-back victories
- See below for analysis, odds and a betting prediction
The Power 6 conferences tend to get the majority of the headlines in the college hoops media, but thereโs some good basketball being played these days in the Mountain West.
Boise State (14-2, 10-1 MWC) is currently the best program of the bunch, and seeks its 14th win in 15 games on Friday (Feb. 5, 9 pm EST) against Nevada (12-7, 7-5 MWC).
Boise State vs Nevada Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise State Broncos | -4 (-115) | OFF | Over 145.5 (-110) |
| Nevada Wolf Pack | +4 (-105) | OFF | Under 145.5 (-110) |
Odds taken Feb. 4th.
The Broncos opened up as 4-point favorites, in a game that features a total of 145.5. The Wolf Pack meanwhile, are fresh off a two-game sweep of rival UNLV, blowing out the Rebels in back-to-back outings.
2021 NCAA Men’s Tournament Championship Odds Tracker
Sweeping Away the Competition
Nevada crushed UNLV by 29 at home on Sunday, and followed that up with a 72-62 home victory on Tuesday. Zane Meeks led the way with 19, while Grant Sherfield poured in 18 and Warren Washington added 15.
๐งน๐งน๐งน๐งน๐งน๐งน๐งน๐งน๐งน
We run this!#BattleBorn pic.twitter.com/a0GGzKKUVD
โ Nevada Basketball (@NevadaHoops) February 3, 2021
Theyโve now won four straight at home, and are 7-2 at the Lawlor Events Center this season. After a slow offensive start to the 2020-21 campaign, theyโve now topped 71 points in five of their last six games, and have held the opposition below 66 points five times during that stretch.
Highlights and recap as the Pack finished the ๐งน of UNLV!
๐ https://t.co/Hl2vvVAOkn#BattleBorn pic.twitter.com/gwNll7Orxh
โ Nevada Basketball (@NevadaHoops) February 3, 2021
Their offensive numbers are right around the middle of the pack in the Mountain West, but their defense continues to improve. They rank fourth in the conference in points allowed, while holding enemy shooters to 40.2% from the field this season. That unit is in for a stiff test on Friday, as the Broncos possess not only the best offense in the Mountain West, but one of the best in the entire country.
Broncos Are Ballinโ
Boise State is coming off an 85-77 victory over Colorado State, avenging its only conference loss of the season. Marcus Shaver Jr. led the way with a season-high 21 points, while Abu Kigab posted 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks.
๐ ๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ด๐ด๐ด
Huge @MountainWest victory tonight!#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/Ehx86iqfEe
โ Boise State MBB (@BroncoSportsMBB) January 30, 2021
The Broncos sit atop the Mountain West, and their 14 wins are the second most in program history through 16 games.
They rank first in the conference, and 24th nationally, in points per game, while only eight teams in the entire country have a better point differential. The offense is led by three seniors who all average in double figures, and the program gets at least 7 points and 21.5 minutes from eight rotational players.
Real leaders celebrate the success of others ๐ช pic.twitter.com/KLlquqdyMf
โ Boise State MBB (@BroncoSportsMBB) January 30, 2021
Defensively, they rank 35th nationally in opponent points per game, making them one of just four teams in college basketball who are in the top-40 in both scoring offense and defense.
Theyโre 6-2 on the road, and while theyโre expected to win this game, it may be closer than most people think.
Home Sweet Home
Thatโs because the Wolf Pack have been ATS crushers this season, especially on their home court. Theyโre 13-5 against the spread overall, 9-3 in Mountain West play, and 6-2 at home.
No time to rest on our laurels. The work continues.#BattleBorn pic.twitter.com/80UYIyfwQr
โ Nevada Basketball (@NevadaHoops) February 3, 2021
Theyโre a perfect 3-0 ATS as a home underdog, and have owned Boise State recently. Nevada has won eight of the last nine matchups, including four straight at home.
KenPomโs metrics predict a close 74-71 Boise State victory and I tend to agree. The juice is currently shaded on the Broncos side, so if you wait until closer to game time you might be able to grab +4.5.
Pick: Nevada Wolf Pack +4 (-105)
Chris Amberley
Chris began his career at Hockey Night in Canada over 15 years ago. He has since worked at TSN for over 12 years as a writer, line-up producer, field producer, newsroom supervisor for Sportscentre, and presently as a promotions producer.
