Milwaukee vs Oakland Predictions, Picks, and Odds: Threes Fall Early, Often in Horizon League Finale

An automatic berth and trip to the March Madness odds is on the line tonight in Indianapolis when the Milwaukee Panthers take on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the Horizon League Tournament Championship. 

The Panthers have won three straight and five of their last six in the regular season before winning three straight tournament games. The Golden Grizzlies won five of their last six regular season games before winning consecutive tournament tilts. Which hot Horizon team will finish their season with a trip to the Big Dance and cover in the conference tournament odds? 

Here are our free college basketball picks and predictions for Milwaukee vs. Oakland at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis on Tuesday, March 12. 

Milwaukee vs Oakland best odds

Milwaukee vs Oakland picks and predictions

These teams met twice in the regular season with the Oakland Golden Grizzlies taking both contests in close affairs. Oakland won at home in a 100-95 shootout and then went on the road and beat the Milwaukee Panthers 91-87 in double overtime. The Golden Grizzlies covered each time and both contests easily went Over the total.

The Panthers are one of the top scoring teams in the entire country averaging 79.5 points per game (49th) and ranking 27th in field goal attempts, 54th in three-point attempts, and 90th in free throw attempts. Milwaukee likes to push the pace and get shots up, ranking 56th in KenPom’s adjusted tempo and 46th in possessions per contest. 

Meanwhile, Oakland does not have that same tempo and firepower but still averages 76.3 points per game (105th). They are a more efficient offense, ranking 135th in KenPom’s offensive efficiency compared to 149th for Milwaukee. The Golden Grizzlies tend to play at the pace of their opponents and will speed it up when they need to. 

Not only can both these teams score, they also are very shaky on the defensive end. Oakland allows 72.9 points per game (213th) and Milwaukee allows 78.6 (336th). The Golden Grizzlies allow their opponents to shoot 25 three-pointers per game (322nd) and 34.5% (244th) from those attempts. Meanwhile, the Panthers allow their opponents to attempt 23.9 (283rd) threes, which fall at a 34.4% clip (237th). 

In their previous two matchups this season, the teams combined to shoot 15-for-43 and 24-for-64, respectively, from downtown. In the conference tournament, Oakland games are averaging 48.5 three-point attempts and Milwaukee games are averaging 43.7 attempts. I would expect to see around 50 three-point attempts in this final. At their shooting averages, that would come out to about 17 made 3s. 

Surprisingly, we can get this total around 150 points despite them scoring far more than that in each of their two matchups this season. Also, Milwaukee games have surpassed 156 points in each of their three conference tournament games, and both Oakland games have been in the 140s. The Over is my best play in this game, and I would not be surprised if it went around 20 points Over the total. 

My best bet: Over 150.5 (-115 at FanDuel)

Milwaukee vs Oakland same-game parlay

Over 152

Blake Lampman Over 1.5 made 3s

Faizon Fields Over 11.5 points

+355 at DraftKings

We will start with our best bet in this game to add a couple of correlated plays and come up with a nice same-game parlay. 

We mentioned how there would likely be about 17 made 3s between these two teams. Oakland's Blake Lampman was 5-for-12 from downtown in the first matchup and 5-for-14 in the second. While he has struggled shooting in the tournament thus far — a combined 2-for-13 — he will get his looks and likely make at least three triples in the finale. 

Finally, we will look for a scorer on the Milwaukee side, and that is Faizon Fields. The big man for the Panthers had 17 and 21 points in the two respective head-to-head matchups with Oakland and has double-digits in five consecutive games. He will hit the boards hard and get plenty of scoring opportunities on second chances.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Milwaukee vs Oakland spread and Over/Under analysis

The Panthers went 13-16 against the spread in the regular season and 0-2 ATS on neutral courts. However, they have covered in two of three conference tournament games and the lone one that was here in Indy. The Golden Grizzlies went 19-12 ATS in the regular season and a perfect 3-0 ATS at neutral sites. They covered their first tournament game but failed to cover in last night’s semifinal.  

Oakland won both regular season matchups, but they were both extremely close. The spread of 4.5 is just a little too much for my liking given how evenly-matched these two teams have been this season and how Oakland has been sneaking out games in the tournament. I would just lean on the moneyline if taking Oakland and lean towards Milwaukee on the spread. 

The reason Milwaukee likes to play fast is their ability to get second chances on the offensive boards. They rank 14th in the country grabbing 13.5 offensive rebounds per game. They also allow a ton of offensive boards at 11.9 per contest (339th). Even if we see a bad shooting performance, the Over is still going to be in play with so many second-chance opportunities. 

Milwaukee vs Oakland betting trend to know

Milwaukee has hit the Over in 22 of their last 34 games and Oakland has hit the Over in 15 of their last 23 games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Milwaukee vs. Oakland.

Milwaukee vs Oakland game info

Milwaukee vs Oakland key injuries

Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Pages related to this topic