The UMass Lowell River Hawks take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City, Iowa. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET on BTN.
Iowa is favored by -31.5 points on the spread, and the total is set at 143.5 points.
Here are my UMass Lowell vs. Iowa predictions and college basketball picks for December 29, 2025.
UMass Lowell vs Iowa Prediction
My Pick: Iowa -31.5 (Play to -33.5)
My UMass Lowell vs Iowa best bet is on the Hawkeyes against the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
UMass Lowell vs. Iowa Odds
| UMass Lowell Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+31.5 -105 | 143.5 -110 / -110 | OFF |
| Iowa Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-31.5 -115 | 143.5 -110 / -110 | OFF |
- UMass Lowell vs Iowa spread: Iowa -31.5
- UMass Lowell vs Iowa over/under: 143.5 points
UMass Lowell vs Iowa College Basketball Betting Preview
UMass Lowell Basketball
UMass Lowell enters the final buy game on its schedule with a 5-9 record — with three of the wins coming against non-Division I opponents.
I can't blame Pat Duquette; he had to replace basically his entire roster. The non-conference slate, and perhaps even the rest of the season, was going to be tough.
Unfortunately, for UMass Lowell, it's in for another tough game before America East play begins.
The Riverhawks' style feeds right into Iowa's hands. They want to play fast, ranking 75th in adjusted tempo. UMass Lowell isn't used to playing slow, but it also plays too fast at times, leading to a 21% turnover rate.
Scoring inside the arc is what UMass Lowell wants to do. It only attempts 3s on 31% of its field goals and shoots 33% from downtown. Four of its five starters are shooting below 32% from deep, with speedy point guard Darrel Yepdo providing the lone perimeter spark.
Expect a steady diet of 6-foot-8 forward Austin Green and sturdy 6-foot-6, 235-pound freshman JJ Massaquoi trying attacking the rim.
Those two are the top two scorers for the Riverhawks, but neither is a shooter. We'll see if the one-on-one attacking-the-rim style works well against Iowa, but I don't think it will.
I've yet to mention UMass Lowell's issues on the defensive end. The Riverhawks rank 332nd in defensive efficiency, allowing teams to shoot 54% on 2s and 38% on 3s. Some regression could come with the 3-point defense, as 38% is quite unsustainable.
UMass Lowell also struggles to finish possessions, ranking 321st in defensive rebound rate.
Iowa Basketball
Iowa is doing a terrific job at gaming the analytical systems. The Hawkeyes are 10-2 and played six of their 12 games against teams outside KenPom's top-175. Not only is Iowa beating these inferior foes, but it's decimating them, winning each by 19+ points and five by 29+ points.
Ben McCollum's style has traveled well to Iowa City. He's a winner through and through.
McCollum deploys one of the slowest tempos in America, ranking 357th in adjusted tempo. Iowa pairs the tempo with one of the best defensive teams, ranking 22nd in defensive efficiency with a dazzling 24% turnover rate.
The Hawkeyes' tempo leads to teams starting their offense late in the clock, and that often leads to ill-advised passes or shot-clock violations.
I'm not quite as sold that Iowa can maintain its 29th spot in offensive efficiency, per KenPom. Iowa struggled offensively against elite defenses like Iowa State and Michigan State — the type of defenses it'll see more of in Big Ten play.
Thankfully, in this matchup, the Hawkeyes will have one more chance to put up wild offensive numbers prior to Big Ten play.
The Hawkeyes are fifth with a 62% effective field goal percentage, seventh with a 62% 2-point percentage and 16th with a 39% 3-point percentage.
From a talent perspective, Iowa is a bit lacking in the scoring department. Bennett Stirtz is the "do everything" guy for them. He leads the Hawkeyes with 16.7 points and 5.0 assists per game. Stirtz is the only Iowa player averaging double-digits.
I can't discount the Hawkeyes' depth, as nine players other than Stirtz average 10-25 minutes per game. Freshman Tate Sage is a budding name to watch, and Alvaro Folgueiras is the perfect interior compliment to Stirtz.
UMass Lowell vs. Iowa Betting Analysis
I won't worry about a McCollum-coached team playing hard and covering as a big favorite. Playing without motivation won't be an issue for this Hawkeyes squad.
They clearly can beat teams by close to 30, which Iowa has done with regularity. I expect a total beatdown at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, with Iowa forcing 20+ turnovers and UMass Lowell scoring in the 45-55 point range.
Does it seem low? Sure. But Iowa held teams to 55 or fewer points in 33% of its games this season.
Will Iowa be able to score 90+? I think so. The Hawkeyes' offensive numbers are buoyed by hammering mid-major teams, and it'll happen again here.
My Pick: Iowa -31.5 (Play to -33.5)
