North Dakota State vs. South Dakota State Odds
| North Dakota State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 150.5 -110o / -110u | +200 |
| South Dakota State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 150.5 -110o / -110u | -250 |
The Summit League title game pins two familiar foes against each other: The North Dakota State Bison and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.
South Dakota State swept the regular-season series against its North Dakota State brethren to the north. However, both games were tightly contested from wire to wire. SDSU won each regular-season meetings by four points.
North Dakota State Bison
Despite the fact that NDSU came up empty-handed in both meetings, head coach Dave Richman might have found the blueprint to slowing down the Jackrabbits' prolific offense.
The secret sauce? Running South Dakota State's robotic 3-point marksmen off the line to prevent an onslaught of triples.
In the first matchup, NDSU excelled in this regard. The Bison surrendered just 12 three-point attempts to the Jackrabbits, who converted only one of those attempts.
South Dakota State doesn't live and die by the 3, but it's undisputedly at its best when the long ball is falling. Taking it out of its arsenal is paramount.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits
However, the Jackrabbits can punish teams on the interior as well.
Richman has an ace up his sleeve in defender Grant Nelson, who has been on a tear the last three games. He's been a stat-sheet stuffer in the tournament, but his sticky defense is what Richman will call upon.
Nelson, a 6-foot-11 sophomore, might find himself guarding both Baylor Scheierman (South Dakota State's de facto point guard) and Douglas Wilson (SDSU's interior post man) in this game.
That's no small task, but it's impossible to completely shut down SDSU. You just have to pick your poison. Scheierman was the star in South Dakota State's first victory over NDSU back on Dec. 30. Then, Wilson shined the brightest in the rematch win at home.
It's worth noting Nelson did not play in that first meeting.
Nelson, along with budding star and teammate Sam Griesel, is playing their best ball down the stretch. Unsurprisingly, the Bison are on a rocket ship to the moon, having lost just once in the month of February.
Since Nelson returned, NDSU is 9-3 against the number, which includes a +9 cover at South Dakota State on Jan. 29.
North Dakota State vs. South Dakota State Betting Pick
Fading South Dakota State is a frightening proposition right now. It demolished a competent South Dakota team Monday night in an emphatic fashion.
However, Richman's interior defense, anchored by Nelson, is built to keep the Jackrabbits in check. Plus, with Griesel heating up, the Bison are just as capable of going full nuclear on offense, too.
Take the Bison with the points in a game that figures to play more like pick’em, just as both regular-season meetings did.
