The UMKC Kangaroos will try to cover the spread at Municipal Auditorium on Saturday when they get a visit from the North Dakota State Bison in NCAA basketball action.

The Bison will try to spoil to the party on Saturday; they are 10-3 ATS against the number this season, while the Kangaroos are 7-7 ATS. North Dakota State is 3-6 on the totals; UMKC is 7-4.



View North Dakota State vs UMKC Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The Kangaroos were listed as 13-point underdogs at most sportsbooks tracked by Odds Shark earlier in the day. It opened first at Sportsbook, where the total was expected shortly.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
This game puts the Kangaroos, most recently No. 331 in the Odds Shark power rankings, up against the Bison, who rate No. 38 in the latest survey. Meanwhile, math and computer-based handicapping simulations run on this game predict a potential 80-56 victory for the Bison.



How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and UMKC has the nation's No. 290-rated offensive output, at 62.1 PPG. The visiting Bison defense ranks No. 34 allowing on average 58 PPG. The Kangaroos FG% has averaged 41.6% so far, less than the Bison marksmen have achieved on the year, 48.1% per game.

Defensively, North Dakota State features the nation's No. 35-rated defense on the road, allowing 61.1 points per game. UMKC, meanwhile, comes in at No. 212 nationally in scoring at home.

Last time out for North Dakota State, they were a 92-66 Sportsbook as they battled South Dakota on the road. They covered in the match as a 11-point favorite. The battle between the Bison and Coyotes didn’t turn out to be much of a battle at all as South Dakota was handed a 92-66 defeat on Thursday at DakotaDome.

UMKC was a 77-61 loser in their most recent outing at home against South Dakota State. They failed to cover the 9-point spread as underdogs. UMKC suffered a 77-61 loss against South Dakota State on Thursday, getting 14 points from Thomas Staton in a losing effort at Municipal Auditorium.

Next up:
North Dakota State home to IUPU Fort Wayne, Thursday, January 10
UMKC home to Utah Valley, Wednesday, January 9