UMKC vs North Dakota Pick – Basketball Predictions & Odds 2/18/23

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks and the UMKC Roos meet Saturday in college basketball action from Swinney Recreation Center. North Dakota is fresh off a Thursday game versus Oral Roberts. In that one the Hawks lost by three points. As for UMKC, they played North Dakota State in their Thursday game. The Roos ended up losing by 11 points. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

North Dakota Fighting Hawks 

North Dakota managed to go a rough 7-14 over their first 21 games this year. In the next six outings the Hawks hit a 3-3 run with losses to Western Illinois, North Dakota State and South Dakota State before wins over South Dakota, Denver and Omaha. 

In the Oral Roberts matchup on Thursday, the Hawks were drilled 49-27 in the first half. North Dakota made it interesting on a 43-24 second-half run but still lost 73-70. Leading the way was Treysen Eaglestaff with 15 points and seven rebounds. 

UMKC Roos 

Over on the UMKC side, they opened the year on a similar 8-13 run. The Roos also went 3-3 in their next six games. The losses came to South Dakota State, Oral Roberts and St. Thomas MN; the wins were against Omaha, Denver and Western Illinois. 

In the North Dakota State game on Thursday, UMKC took a 28-24 deficit into the second half. The Roos were outscored 41-34 from there and lost 69-58. RayQuawndis Mitchell topped the team on 18 points and four assists in the loss. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll probably stay with North Dakota in this one. The Hawks had a bad first half in the Oral Roberts game on Thursday but they’d been on a three-game win streak prior to that. North Dakota has scored well lately with 70 or more points in 10 straight games. These teams last met on January 19 in a 77-60 North Dakota win at the Betty. If the Hawks can get off to a better start in this one I think they’ll be fine cover-wise.