The Southern Utah Thunderbirds and the Idaho Vandals meet in Big Sky college hoops action from the Cowan Spectrum on Saturday.
The Southern Utah Thunderbirds will try to build on an 89-76 win over Eastern Washington in their last game. John Knight III has a team-high 19.7 PPG and 4 APG with 5.7 RPG as well while Tevian Jones has 13.4 PPG and Dre Marin has 13 PPG with 5.4 RPG and 2.9 APG this season. Maizen Fausett has 10.4 PPG with a team-high 9.3 RPG to make up the group of double-digit scorers for Southern Utah up to this point in the season. As a team, Southern Utah is averaging 82.1 PPG on 42.9% shooting from the field, 29.9% from three and 70.2% from the foul line while allowing 76.6 PPG on 41% shooting from the field and 31.6% from three this season.
The Idaho Vandals will look to rebound from a 90-73 loss at the hands of North Dakota State last time out. Trevante Anderson leads the Vandals in scoring and assists with 14.9 PPG and 3.7 APG while Mikey Dixon has 12.6 PPG as the only other double-digit scorer for Idaho up to this point in the season. Philip Pepple Jr. also has a team-high 4.9 RPG as well on the year. As a team, Idaho is averaging 69.7 PPG on 39.7% shooting from the field, 35.7% from three and 69.5% from the foul line while allowing 85.4 PPG on 49.9% shooting from the field and 30.4% from three this season.
Southern Utah is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a road favorite and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following an ATS win while the over is 4-0 in their last 4 games against a team with a losing record. Idaho is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall and 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog while the over is 4-1 in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record.
I get the case that could be made for the home dog in most spots, but the Idaho Vandals have been getting their butts kicked left and right this season no matter where they play. I just think that Southern Utah ends up being too much for Idaho with their offense, so give me the Thunderbirds in a 20+ point win here.