The Manhattan Jaspers take on the Niagara Purple Eagles in Niagara Falls, NY. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Niagara is favored by 1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -142. The total is set at 137.5 points.
Here’s my Manhattan vs. Niagara prediction and college basketball picks for February 13, 2026.
Manhattan vs Niagara Prediction
My Pick: Niagara Total Team Under
My Manhattan vs Niagara best bet is on the Purple Eagles to go under their team total. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Manhattan vs. Niagara Odds
| Manhattan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -102 | 137.5 -105o / -115u | +116 |
| Niagara Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -120 | 137.5 -105o / -115u | -142 |
- Manhattan vs Niagara spread: Niagara -1.5
- Manhattan vs Niagara over/under: 137.5 points
- Manhattan vs Niagara moneyline: Manhattan +116, Niagara -142
Manhattan vs Niagara College Basketball Betting Preview
Manhattan Basketball
Manhattan comes in as losers of six of its last eight conference games, and it's struggled on both ends of the floor for the better part of this season.
John Gallagher has made significant headway given the circumstances of what he inherited with the program, but this once feisty bunch has a long way to go in order to be taken seriously in MAAC play.
Another losing year is in store, and now the Jaspers have to make the most of their Western New York swing with games against Niagara and Canisius this weekend.
The offense has seen some success and five Jaspers average double-figure scoring, led by Jaden Winston at 15.6 points per game. Winston has a versatile game and he can score off the dribble and get to the foul line while also leading Manhattan in assists with 98.
Devin Dinkins averages 12.8 points per contest, while Fraser Roxburgh, Terrance Jones and Anthony Isaac each average 10.
Inconsistent shooting has doomed the Jaspers this season, as they don't have a single player on the team — who's playing significant minutes — making over 50% from 2-point range or 40% from 3-point range.
The post is a significant weakness and Manhattan struggles to secure good looks inside the painted area. I'll be interested to watch how Manhattan goes about trying to free up shooters against Niagara.
The defense has been a problem for Manhattan all season, as it ranks 355th nationally in efficiency. The Jaspers can't keep their opponents off the offensive glass and putbacks have been a recurring theme for this group all season.
Defending shots from 2- and 3-point range has been a struggle, but the Jaspers do succeed in defending without fouling, ranking 10th in opponent free-throw rate nationally.
Niagara Basketball
Niagara has struggled through a tough season, as it sits 6-18 overall and 3-11 in MAAC play.
Greg Paulus has unbelievably been at the helm for seven years already, and this might be his worst team yet. While many of the losses have been competitive, Niagara can't put it together down the stretch and has seen the wrong end of seven single-digit losses in conference play.
The offense has been such a problem for years, but this season, Niagara struggles getting open shots and getting to the line.
Justin Page is the only Purple Eagle who averages double figures in scoring with 12.1 points per game, and he's missed three of the previous four contests due to injury. It's unclear if he'll be able to participate on Friday, but he tried to play against crosstown rival Canisius on February 3 and was able to log just 11 minutes.
Justin Hawkins, Trenton Walters and Vice Zanki all average seven points per game or more, but there's not enough consistent shot-making for Niagara to be dangerous in the MAAC.
The defense has been better for Niagara, as it's aided by a slow pace offensively, but this unit has weaknesses. Niagara ranks 248th nationally in effective field goal percentage surrendered and struggles to keep opponents off the offensive boards.
This unit has actually held its last three opponents under 60 points, and I'll be very interested to see if the solid defensive performance continues in this one.
Manhattan vs. Niagara Betting Analysis
This line opened Niagara -2 with a total pegged at 138.5. I'm going to take Niagara’s team total under 70 when the derivative markets are released.
Niagara simply doesn't have a ton of options available to its disposal with Page out of the mix. He's missed three of the last four games and only played 11 minutes against Canisius.
He was critical in the first matchup between these two schools, scoring 13 points while having three assists. Without Page, the offense has really struggled to get anything going.
Niagara operates at one of the slowest tempos in the country and its last three games have been played at 61, 58 and 59 total possessions. The Purple Eagles scored 79 points against Siena in a game in which they made 14 3-point shots. However, in 14 conference games, they've only exceeded 70 points twice.
I'm not confident that Manhattan will win the pace war. Niagara controlled the tempo in the first meeting between these two, and the posted total of 138.5 is telling. The betting market expects a slower-paced, lower-scoring game, and that's what I expect as well.
In every conference win Niagara has registered this season, it's scored less than 70 points. The Purple Eagles may win this game, but I want to bet against their team total in this spot. It'll be a huge bonus if Page doesn’t play.
My Pick: Niagara Team Total Under (Play to 69)
