The Vermont Catamounts take on the Albany Great Danes in the Broadview Center in Albany, NY. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Vermont is favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -280. The total is set at 143.5 points.
Here’s my Vermont vs. Albany prediction and college basketball picks for January 19, 2026.
Vermont vs Albany Prediction
My Pick: Vermont -5.5
My Vermont vs Albany best bet is on the Catamounts to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Vermont vs. Albany Odds
| Vermont Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -110 | 143.5 -110 / -110 | -280 |
| Albany Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -110 | 143.5 -110 / -110 | +225 |
- Vermont vs Albany spread: Vermont -5.5
- Vermont vs Albany over/under: 143.5 points
- Vermont vs Albany moneyline: Vermont -280, Albany +225
Vermont vs Albany College Basketball Betting Preview
Vermont Basketball
Vermont comes into this matchup 11-7 overall and 3-0 in the America East.
The Catamounts have the best offensive rating in the America East at 111.2, with UMBC being second at 106.2 (95 spots below Vermont).
In conference play, Vermont is tied with Albany as the best defensive team. Teams are shooting 43.8% from 2-point range against the Catamounts, thanks to a 15.6% block rate, which is first in the conference.
The Catamounts also give up the fewest offensive rebounds per game in conference play.
Gus Yalden leads the team in points (16.7 PPG) and rebounds (5.2 RPG) in 22 minutes per game.
Yalden is a stretch big, shooting 40% from 3 and does a good job of using his size to free up TJ Hurley in the halfcourt.
Hurley is a 6-foot-5 guard who's averaging 13 points per game and has scored double figures in five out of the last six outings.
Along with what Hurley brings offensively, he's one of the best defenders in the country, statistically. Via Synergy, opponents are shooting 29% from the field when guarded by Hurley.
I would assume Hurley gets the matchup against Albany's talented Amir Lindsey.
Albany Basketball
Albany is coming into this matchup at 6-12 overall and 2-1 in the America East.
In conference play, Albany has been the most efficient offense, the best offensive rebounding team and tied with Vermont as the best defensive team.
The Great Danes are led by the aforementioned Lindsey, who averages 17.4 points and almost five assists per game.
Lindsey is a one-man wrecking crew. He's scored in double figures in 10 straight games and is averaging 21 points per evening in conference play on 53% shooting from the field.
He's very good at getting downhill off a screen and either scoring or finding the open man. If a team goes zone — like Albany faced against Binghamton — then Lindsey will sit in the middle of the defense and hit 15-footers.
Vermont vs. Albany Betting Analysis
As good as Albany has been playing recently and knowing it's at home, I don't want to fade Vermont in this spot.
Yes, Vermont hasn't had the most impressive wins in conference play, but I think this is a classic statement game by the Catamounts. They'll get a good performance from Yalden, and Hurley should do enough to slow down Lindsey, forcing one of his teammates to try and step up.
My Pick: Vermont -5.5
