The Vermont Catamounts take on the UMass Lowell River Hawks in Lowell, MA Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Vermont is favored by 4.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -220. The total is set at 144.5 points.
Here are my Vermont vs. UMass Lowell predictions and college basketball picks for January 22, 2026.
Vermont vs UMass Lowell Prediction
My Pick: UMass Lowell +4.5 (Play to +3)
My Vermont vs UMass Lowell best bet is on the River Hawks against 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. UMass Lowell Odds
| Vermont Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -105 | 144.5 -115o / -105u | -220 |
| UMass Lowell Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -115 | 144.5 -115o / -105u | +180 |
- Vermont vs UMass Lowell spread: Vermont -4.5
- Vermont vs UMass Lowell over/under: 144.5 points
- Vermont vs UMass Lowell moneyline: Vermont -220, UMass Lowell +180
Vermont vs UMass Lowell College Basketball Betting Preview
Vermont Basketball
Vermont lost its last matchup, falling to Albany by seven. The Catamounts were without star guard TJ Long and big man Noah Barnett, who both look likely to miss this one, too.
Early this season, Vermont had the look of a team that could run through the America East without much resistance. Instead, the Catamounts have seen plenty of resistance, sitting at 3-1, including two narrow wins over Maine and Binghamton — the two worst teams in the league.
Vermont is a totally different team without Long. It could only muster 1.00 PPP in its loss to Albany and 1.08 in its win over Maine.
Long scored just three points in the Catamounts' win over Binghamton, so he’s huge for this Vermont team when he's putting up strong offensive numbers.
In January, Vermont sits 301st in Bart Torvik’s rankings and 287th in offensive efficiency. In contrast, Vermont ranks 159th for the whole season in the same metric.
Gus Yalden is the centerpiece for John Becker’s offense. The former four-star recruit leads Vermont with 16 points per game while shooting 55% from the field and 38% from deep. He only plays around 22 minutes per game, so when he’s on the floor, he’s there to put up shots.
The Catamounts have to emphasize keeping the game to a half-court setting, as they rank 306th in adjusted tempo. That’ll be key against UMass Lowell, which wants to play up-tempo.
Plus, pounding the paint with Yalden to open up the perimeter will be the main source of offense for Vermont.
This is far from Becker’s best defensive team in Burlington, as it ranks 281st in KenPom’s defensive efficiency. Opponents score at a 51.8% clip on 2s and 34% on 3s.
Plus, Vermont is in the bottom five nationally in defensive turnover rate.
UMass Lowell Basketball
Pat Duquette had the unenviable task of flipping an entire roster over. The River Hawks got off to a 1-6 start this season with the team starting to gel. Now they sit 3-1 in league play with two road wins to boot.
UMass Lowell is an interesting team. It plays at a fast tempo, but it's mainly due to teams shooting it quicker against it. When the River Hawks have the ball, they drain about 17 seconds off the clock.
It’s not a coincidence that UMass Lowell is playing a better brand of basketball since Angel Montas Jr. started playing well. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound wing has scored 17+ points in six straight games, and he can be a mismatch with his size and quickness.
The River Hawks don't look to take many 3s, attempting perimeter shots on just 31% of their field goal attempts. Conversely, UMass Lowell wants to get to the foul line, ranking 91st in KenPom's FTA/FGA metric.
Guards Darrel Yepdo and Xavier Spencer have also been nice non-Division I finds for Duquette. Yepdo is more of a speedster and shooter, while Spencer is more of a showrunner.
Xavier Spencer is the leading scorer for UMass Lowell, and he ranks 20th nationally in free-throw rate. He plays a small ball "center" role and will look to use his speed to get by Yalden.
Defensively, UMass Lowell is a bit of a mess. It sits just 313th in defensive efficiency, per KenPom. The River Hawks won't give Vermont free chances at the line, but their defense is porous overall.
Vermont vs. UMass Lowell Betting Analysis
I'm riding with UMass Lowell, assuming Long is out.
UMass Lowell is over 40 spots better in Bart Torvik over its last four games, and I trust it to cover the spread at home.
My Pick: UMass Lowell +4.5 (Play to +3)
