The Denver Pioneers will look to pick up a win while covering the spread when they take on the Panthers in Northern Iowa at McLeod Center on Saturday in college basketball action.

The Pioneers will try to spoil to the party on Saturday; they are 13-9-1 ATS against the number this season, while the Panthers are 14-11-2 ATS. Denver is 11-10 on the totals; Northern Iowa is 11-13.



View Denver vs Northern Iowa Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to side with Northern Iowa in this one found them as 4.5-point favorites earlier in the day. Watch for line moves and updates at Sportsbook before gametime.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Panthers - Pioneers odds would favor the Panthers if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Northern Iowa is rated No. 121 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Denver is at No. 145. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 71-67 win for the Pioneers.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Northern Iowa's No. 206-ranked offense, averaging 66.2 PPG, against a Pioneers defense that ranks No. 6 at 54.9 PPG. The Panthers field goal percentage has averaged 44.6% so far, less than the Pioneers marksmen have achieved on the year, 47.9% per game.

Defensively, Denver features the nation's No. 6-rated defense on the road, allowing 57.4 points per game. Northern Iowa, meanwhile, comes in at No. 188 nationally in scoring at home.

In their last action, Denver was a 62-41 Sportsbook on the road against San Jose State. They covered the 12-point spread as favorites. Denver cruised to victory on Saturday, running San Jose State out of the gym and running up a 62-41 score at The Event Center.

Northern Iowa won its last outing, a 69-63 result against Missouri State on February 19. They covered in that game as a 5.5-point favorite. Northern Iowa earned a 69-63 victory over Missouri State on Tuesday, getting 19 points from Seth Tuttle at JQH Arena.


Denver Pioneers Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing New Mexico State are 4-6
After playing San Jose State are 1-0
After a win are 9-1

Northern Iowa Panthers Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
Before playing Southern Illinois are 6-4
After playing Missouri State are 8-2
After a win are 6-4

A few Pioneers at Panthers trends to consider:
Denver is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
Denver is 6-1-1 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Northern Iowa is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Northern Iowa is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Northern Iowa is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games


Next up:
Denver home to New Mexico State, Saturday, March 2
Northern Iowa at Southern Illinois, Wednesday, February 27