The Massachusetts Minutemen take on the Ohio Bobcats in Athens, Ohio. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. EST on CBS Sports Network.
Ohio is favored by 4.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -200. The total is set at 158 points.
Here’s my UMass vs. Ohio prediction and college basketball picks for January 6, 2026.
UMass vs Ohio Prediction
My Pick: 1H Under 74.5
My UMASS vs Ohio best bet is on the first-half Under. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
UMass vs. Ohio Odds
| UMASS Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -110 | 158 -110o / -110u | +165 |
| Ohio Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -110 | 158 -110o / -110u | -200 |
- UMass vs Ohio spread: Ohio -4.5
- UMass vs Ohio over/under: 158
- UMass vs Ohio best bet: 1H Under 74.5
UMass vs Ohio College Basketball Betting Preview
This game activated one of our PRO betting systems, powered by Evan Abrams.
In college basketball games with high totals, the first half often trends lower scoring than expected, especially when the home team is below average, and the spread indicates a potential mismatch.
Oddsmakers set high totals anticipating pace and scoring efficiency across the full game.
Still, early possessions tend to be more deliberate as teams feel each other out, and defensive effort is strongest before fatigue sets in.
When the home team has a losing record, they often play conservatively to stay competitive, further slowing the tempo.
Combined with the pressure of high expectations from bettors leaning to the over, these environments create consistent value on the first half under as inflated totals fail to account for slower game starts.
My Pick: 1H Under 74.5
