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USATSI

The Albany Great Danes will look to continue their mastery of the UMass Lowell River Hawks when they meet Wednesday in a key America East Conference showdown. The Great Danes (6-17, 1-7 AEC), who are 2-12 on the road this season, have beaten UMass Lowell in four consecutive games, including an 89-63 decision in Albany on Jan. 8. The Great Danes have also won eight of the last 12 matchups in the series. The River Hawks (17-6, 5-4), who have lost two straight, are 19-6 on their home floor since the start of last season, including 11-0 in 2022-2023.

Tip-off from the Costello Athletic Center in Lowell, Massachusetts, is set for 6 p.m. ET. The River Hawks are 13.5-point favorites in the latest Albany vs. UMass Lowell odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 143. Before making any UMass Lowell vs. Albany picks, check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters Week 13 of the season 50-29 on all-top rated college basketball picks, returning more than $1,200 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns. 

Now, the model has set its sights on Albany vs. UMass Lowell and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college basketball odds and betting lines for UMass Lowell vs. Albany:

  • Albany vs. UMass Lowell spread: UMass Lowell -13.5
  • Albany vs. UMass Lowell over/under: 143 points
  • Albany vs. UMass Lowell money line: Albany +700, UMass Lowell -1100
  • ALBY: The Over is 4-0 in the Great Danes' last four road games
  • UML: The River Hawks are 5-1 against the spread in their last six Wednesday games
  • Albany vs. UMass Lowell picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why UMass Lowell can cover

Junior guard Ayinde Hikim is one of five River Hawks who average eight points or better. Hikim averages 9.8 points, four assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. He is also an 83.9% free-throw shooter. He has scored 10 points or more in 11 games and recorded one double-double, an 18-point and 11-assist performance in a 90-81 win over Sacred Heart on Nov. 16. He scored seven points and dished out three assists in the Jan. 8 meeting at Albany.

Another key contributor for UMass Lowell is fifth-year senior forward Allin Blunt. Blunt is coming off a 17-point and seven-rebound effort at New Hampshire on Saturday. He has been red hot of late, reaching double-digit scoring in five of the last six games, including a season-high 18 points in the 80-65 win over Vermont.

Why Albany can cover

The Great Danes have been relying on senior Gerald Drumgoole Jr. to help boost their offense during their recent slump. Drumgoole, who scored 22 points in the first matchup with the River Hawks, has reached double-digit scoring in three of the past five games, including a 29-point and seven rebound performance at NJIT. He has scored 10 or more points in 16 games, including eight where he reached 20 or more. For the season, he is averaging 14.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals.

Freshman Jonathan Beagle has also come up big for Albany. He is averaging 12.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He has reached double-figure scoring in seven straight games, including a double-double in the first meeting with UMass Lowell, scoring 17 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

How to make UMass Lowell vs. Albany picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 141 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Albany vs. UMass Lowell? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.