Montana State vs. Grambling State Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups for the 2024 March Madness First Four
Montana State vs. Grambling State Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups for the 2024 March Madness First Four
March Madness is underway, starting with the First Four, hosted at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Montana State and Grambling State square off as Wednesday's early night tip-off, featuring a pair of teams competing to secure a bid as the 16th seed in the Midwest Region.
Grambling won the Southwest Athletic Conference, going 14-4 in conference play, while only losing once in its past ten games played. Montana State wound up fifth in the Big Sky Conference, finishing the season .500, however, they won their conference tournament, routing Montana by 15 to wind up dancing as a potential 16 seed.
Here's the latest odds for Montana State vs. Grambling State, plus starting lineups, which we'll use to target best bets during this First Four matchup on Wednesday night.
MONTANA STATE VS. GRAMBLING STATE START TIME, WHERE TO WATCH, AND ODDS
- Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2024
- Start Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: truTV
MONTANA STATE VS. GRAMBLING STATE ODDS AND BETTING DATA
| TEAM | SPREAD | MONEYLINE | IMPLIED CHANCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana State Bobcats | -3.5 (-115) | -178 | 64.03% |
| Grambling State Tigers | +3.5 (-105) | 146 | 40.65% |
Montana State is currently favored on the point spread at -3.5, with -115 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. The Bobcats are one of the better shooting teams from the field, averaging 46.6 percent, and converting 36.7 percent of three-point attempts, which is better than Alabama and virtually tied with UConn.
Grambling is a moneyline underdog, available to wager at +146 odds. It's for good reason. The Tigers average 67.6 points per game, while converting 44 percent of field goal attempts. Their defense allowed 69.0 points per game this season, but Grambling needs to find ways to manufacture points to keep up with Montana State's quick scoring ability.
Montana State averages 75.1 points per game, but their defense also gives up 74.1 per game, meaning Grambling has a chance to score 75+ points for the first time in back-to-back games this season.
MONTANA STATE VS. GRAMBLING STATE PREDICTION
Montana State's offense should trump Grambling's defense in this contest. The Tigers managed to hold all three opponents in conference play to 66 or fewer points, but they'll have their hands full against the Bobcats' three-point shooting, averaging nine three-pointers made per game.
Montana State's guard, Robert Ford, is their primary scorer, alongside Brian Goracke, who both dominate the back court for the Bobcats. Grambling is likely to start three forwards, forming a defensive wall in the interior, but Montana State's shooting backcourt shouldn't encounter too many issues since they specialize in shooting from beyond the arc.
Grambling also is significantly worse at converting free throws compared to Montana State. The Tigers average 70.6 percent from the line, 248th, compared to the Bobcats, who rank 109th, averaging a 73.3 free throw percentage. This may seem like a marginal difference, but if the game comes down to crunch time, we always want to be on the side who can make more clutch buckets.
Montana State vs. Grambling State Prediction: Montana State -3.5 (-115) (Bet $115 to collect $215)
MONTANA STATE VS. GRAMBLING STATE PROJECTED LINEUPS
Montana State projected lineup:
- G Robert Ford
- G Brian Goracke
- F Brandon Walker
- G Eddie Turner
- G Tyler Patterson
Grambling State projected lineup:
- F Jonathan Aku
- F Antwan Burnett
- G Dozier Kintavious
- G Tra'michael Moton
- F Jourdan Smith
MONTANA STATE MARCH MADNESS ODDS
Despite Montana State being in a position to handle business against a physical, low-scoring team like Grambling, the Bobcats have an extra game on their schedule compared to 60 other teams in the tournament, assuming they advance. Oddsmakers have Montana State listed at an incredibly lucrative +100000, or 1000/1 odds, especially with the talent in the Midwest Region. Their inability to defend is going to be a huge issue against Zach Eddy and the Purdue Boilermakers in Round 1, so it's better to grab the Bobcats while they are favored in their First Four matchup against Grambling instead.
GRAMBLING STATE MARCH MADNESS ODDS
Despite being underdogs against Montana State, Grambling also is valued at +10000 in the National Championship futures market. In fact, there are 17 teams currently available at +100000 in this market, including UAB, Akron, and Duquesne, who have already clinched a Round 1 matchup. The Tigers' 9-1 record entering Wednesday's First Four game against Montana State gives them plenty of momentum, but averaging 44 percent from the field isn't going to get it done against March Madness opponents.
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Matt is an avid writer, editor, and researcher. He enjoys analyzing the game within the game which is fantasy sports and sports betting. Music is another constant in his daily life. Matt loves spending time with his wife and three pets. He likes to read, listen to podcasts, and is constantly motivated to create the most accurate and engaging content in the sports betting industry.