The Howard Bison take on the Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston, IL. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET on BTN.
Northwestern is favored by 20.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -6000. The total is set at 145.5 points.
Here are my Howard vs. Northwestern predictions and college basketball picks for December 30, 2025.
Howard vs Northwestern Prediction
My Pick: Under 145.5 (Play to 143)
My Howard vs Northwestern best bet is on the under. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Howard vs. Northwestern Odds
| Howard Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+20.5 -114 | 145.5 -106 / -114 | +1600 |
| Northwestern Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-20.5 -106 | 145.5 -106 / -114 | -6000 |
- Howard vs Northwestern spread: Northwestern -20.5
- Howard vs Northwestern over/under: 145.5 points
- Howard vs Northwestern moneyline: Howard +1600, Northwestern -6000
Howard vs Northwestern College Basketball Betting Preview
Howard Basketball
Howard was riding high heading into the Christmas break after snagging road wins over UNC Wilmington and Drexel.
We'll see if the boost from Cedric Taylor III continues to help. In three games with the Bison, Taylor scored 10+ points while leading them to three wins. He's provided a much-needed offensive boost to a Howard offense that needed a jolt.
The Bison have really struggled offensively all season. They sit 307th in offensive efficiency and shoot just 45.3% from inside the arc.
One of the few Bison who can score inside is stud forward Bryce Harris. The leader in the clubhouse for MEAC Player of the Year, Harris is a super unique player. At 6-foot-4, 220 points, he's a huge mismatch for guards due to his strength, while having more foot speed than forwards.
It's not a one-man show with Harris. The Bison have three other scorers in double figures (Taylor, Cam Gillus, Alex Cotton), and all four can really shoot it from downtown. Cotton missed the past few games with an injury, though.
Howard also has to improve in the turnover department, as it gives the ball away 19% of the time. The Bison have some real offensive weapons, but they'll continue to struggle if the turnovers don't improve.
On the flip side, the Bison are excellent thieves on the defensive end, forcing turnovers 21% of the time. While Howard lacks length, it has a bunch of guards who are active defenders — six players average a steal or more for the Bison.
The Bison are one of the smallest teams in America, sitting 347th out of 365 teams in average height, per KenPom. That stings them on the interior, as they rank 240th in 2-point field goal defense.
That's a bit of a concern heading into Howard's final game before MEAC play.
Northwestern Basketball
Northwestern has done a great job of beating the teams it has to beat, but that's about it. The Wildcats enter this game with a 7-5 record, with six of their five wins coming against teams outside the top 100 and all five losses at the hands of top-65 teams.
The Wildcats will look to batter the Bison's lack of interior beef with their strong 58% figure on 2s.
I'm just not sure how Howard contains the tandem of Nick Martinelli and Arrinten Page. Martinelli is one of the better players in the Big Ten, averaging 21.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
The southpaw goes to his patented floater often, but he's also found his perimeter shot this season. Howard will likely put Harris on Martinelli, which could put Harris in foul trouble.
Page has been the perfect Robin to Martinelli's Batman. Formerly of USC and Cincinnati, Page has found a home in Evanston, posting 14.5 points per game.
Also, Martinelli missed Northwestern's last game with a concussion, but it sounds like he could be back.
3-point defense is the most variance-driven stat in basketball. So far, it's favored the Wildcats, as they hold teams to 28% from downtown.
With the national average hovering in the 33% range, Northwestern is one of the elite teams at defending the arc. I'm not sure it's fully sustainable, but I don't think the regression hits here.
Howard vs. Northwestern Betting Analysis
I'm rolling with the under.
The Bison are best when forcing turnovers, and Northwestern gives it away just 13% of the time. That'll likely lead to longer possessions for a Wildcats squad that ranks 231st in adjusted tempo.
If Northwestern turns out to actually be elite at defending 3s, then Howard will have a brutal time scoring.
With neither team looking to play super fast, this feels like a lower-scoring contest. Howard tends to hang in the 60-65 point range, and Northwestern is best served to play in the mid-70 range.
My Pick: Under 145.5 (Play to 143)
