The Vermont Catamounts take on the Princeton Tigers in Princeton, NJ. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Vermont is favored by 1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -134. The total is set at 138.5 points.
Here’s my Vermont vs. Princeton predictions and college basketball picks for December 30, 2025.
Vermont vs Princeton Prediction
My Pick: Vermont ML -134
My Vermont vs Princeton 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. Princeton Odds
| Vermont Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -115 | 138.5 -110 / -110 | -134 |
| Princeton Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -105 | 138.5 -110 / -110 | +112 |
- Vermont vs Princeton spread: Vermont -1.5
- Vermont vs Princeton over/under: 138.5 points
- Vermont vs Princeton moneyline: Vermont -134, Princeton +112
Vermont vs Princeton College Basketball Betting Preview
Vermont Basketball
Vermont squares off against Princeton in a rematch of an earlier-season duel seen in the ESPN Events Invitational. Vermont used a strong performance in the last 10 minutes of the second half to steal that one.
It's hard to beat a team twice, but I've been really impressed with the Vermont defense and how the Catamounts have been playing in recent games this month.
Vermont hasn't had a real strong start to its 2025-26 season, as the Catamounts — a usual feisty out in the non-conference — have dropped squeakers to Buffalo, Liberty, Iona and Yale.
It was the Vermont defense that's let this group down, but recent efforts have been encouraging. The Catamounts held Pepperdine and Merrimack under 60 points and Siena under 70, which all resulted in Vermont wins.
Offensively, we've seen better patience, as the Catamounts are taking higher percentage shots. Gus Yalden is a dude, and his versatility will create problems for Princeton in this matchup.
Yalden is averaging 17.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, and if TJ and TJ (Long and Hurley) get going from deep, the Catamounts are going to remain dangerous.
Defensively, Vermont is rebounding better and defending the 3 better, and that spells trouble for Princeton.
Princeton Basketball
Princeton is going to be methodical on offense, as the Tigers operate at one of the slowest tempos in all of college basketball. Their last seven games have been played in the 60s for possession count.
Princeton is going to let it fly from 3-point range, though.
Jack Stanton and Jackson Hicke have been solid 3-point shooters so far this season, but their teammates are going to have to step up and knock down some triples. If not, this team will continue to lose games down the stretch — as we've seen routinely during the last five weeks of the season.
Princeton’s defense isn't strong enough to be relied upon to consistently force turnovers, and the Tigers are committing a ton of fouls.
Vermont doesn't play a style that's conducive to drawing a lot of fouls in the paint, so I don’t expect that to be a problem in this one.
Vermont vs. Princeton Betting Analysis
This line opened Vermont -1.5 with a total that's been bet down from 140 to 138.5. I'm going to play the moneyline with Vermont, as I expect the Catamounts to win this game.
In the first matchup, Princeton's CJ Happy went off for 22 points, including four 3-point shots. However, he hasn't shot the ball well since that game, and Princeton finished 13-of-15 at the rim against the Catamounts, a performance that's unlikely to be duplicated.
Vermont has ramped up the intensity defensively, and I would expect a strong performance from it.
Princeton’s leading scorer — Dalen Davis — has been out with a significant ankle injury and has missed the last eight games. The Tigers are searching for answers offensively without him, and I wouldn't anticipate the offense looking much better in this matchup.
As of this writing, there's no word on Davis’ return.
Vermont is playing with more confidence defensively and should contest everything Princeton wants to do. I don't trust this Princeton offense being effective.
On the other side, Vermont has four scorers that can be relied upon, all of whom shoot the ball considerably better than its opponent on Tuesday night.
This game will be close, but I like Vermont to get the road win.
My Pick: Vermont ML -134
