Horizon League Tournament: Northern Kentucky vs. Cleveland State odds, picks and predictions
The Northern Kentucky Norse (21-12) and Cleveland State Vikings (21-12) meet Tuesday in the Horizon League Tournament championship game with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line. Tip from Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis is at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook's lines around the Northern Kentucky vs. Cleveland Stateodds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Northern Kentucky, the 4-seed, picked up an 81-74 win over Oakland in the quarterfinals a 6.5-point favorite Thursday. NKU then set its sights on 1-seed Youngstown State and knocked it off with a 75-63 victory as a 3-point underdog Monday. The Norse avenged an 18-point loss at Youngstown on Feb. 4 to move 1 step closer to the Big Dance.
NKU has won 6 of the past 7 games overall and has covered the spread in all 7 out. However, that lone straight-up loss came at Cleveland State on Feb. 19 by a 64-63 score as the Under (129) cashed.
Northern Kentucky topped Cleveland State 57-56 on Jan. 19 as a 5-point home favorite as the Under (126.5) connected.
The Vikings topped Robert Morris 75-70 in OT in the quarterfinals Thursday, although they failed to cover as 6-point favories. Cleveland State took out its aggression on Milwaukee Monday, blasting the Panthers 93-80 as a 2.5-point favorite. The Over cashed in both tourney games.
Despite the cover against Milwaukee, Cleveland State is just 1-4 against the spread in the past 5 games overall. The Vikings have hit the Over in 4 straight, and 11 of the past 13 outings.
NKU is looking to make its 3rd-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament, appearing in 2017 and 2019.
Cleveland State is trying to make the NCAA Tournament for the 4th time, and 2nd time in the past 3 seasons. The Vikings have 3 wins in 6 NCAA Tournament games, including a Sweet Sixteen run in 1986.
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