The UMass Lowell River Hawks look to continue the program's best start since 2002-2003, when they take on the visiting Vermont Catamounts in a key America East Conference matchup on Wednesday. The Catamounts (8-9, 2-1 America East), who won the league title last year at 17-1 and were 28-6 overall, have won six of their last eight games. The River Hawks (14-3, 2-1) have won three of their last four and are 8-0 on their home floor. Vermont has won each of the last three meetings and 11 of 12.
Tip-off from the Costello Athletic Center in Lowell, Massachusetts, is set for 6 p.m. ET. Vermont leads the all-time series 15-3, including an 8-2 mark in games played at Lowell. The Catamounts are 1-point favorites in the latest Vermont vs. UMass Lowell odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 134. Before making any UMass Lowell vs. Vermont picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters Week 9 of the season 34-18 on all-top rated college basketball picks, returning more than $1,000 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on UMass Lowell vs. Vermont and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Vermont vs. UMass Lowell:
- Vermont vs. UMass Lowell spread: UMass Lowell +1
- Vermont vs. UMass Lowell over/under: 134 points
- Vermont vs. UMass Lowell money line: Vermont +100, UMass Lowell -120
- VER: The Catamounts are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games against a team with a winning straight-up record
- UML: The River Hawks are 4-1 ATS in their last five Wednesday games
- Vermont vs. UMass Lowell picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why UMass Lowell can cover
Junior guard Ayinde Hikim has been red hot of late, reaching double-digit scoring in two of his last three games and in five of seven. He registered his lone double-double of the season during a 90-81 win over Sacred Heart on Nov. 16. In that game, he scored 18 points while dishing out 11 assists. He scored 14 points in a 72-70 win over Maine on Thursday. For the year, Hikim averages 10.1 points, 4.1 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals.
The top player off the bench for UMass Lowell is junior guard Yuri Covington. He scored 14 points and grabbed three rebounds in Sunday's loss at Albany. It was the ninth time he has reached double-digit scoring. His best game was a 22-point performance in an 84-64 victory at Long Island on Dec. 5. For the season, he is averaging 9.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, and is connecting on 47.7% of his field goals, including 40.6% from 3-point range and 81.5% from the foul line.
Why Vermont can cover
Senior guard Aaron Deloney has reached double-figure scoring in 11 games, including two with 20 or more points. In a season-opening win over Brown, Deloney poured in 32 points, while dishing out five assists. He is coming off a 13-point, four-rebound effort in the loss at New Hampshire. For the season, he averages 12.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while connecting on 42.1% of his field goals, including 40.7% from 3-point range.
Also leading the Catamounts is senior guard Dylan Penn. The transfer from Bellarmine is averaging double-figure scoring at 11.7 points per game, as well as 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He is connecting on 48.4% of his shots from the floor and 82% of his foul shots. He has reached double digits in scoring 10 times, including three games with 20 or more points. He scored a season-high 27 points in a 94-85 double-overtime loss at Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 13.
How to make UMass Lowell vs. Vermont picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 141 combined points. It has also generated an against the spread pick that hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Vermont 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 to jump on, all from the advanced model that is 34-18 on its top-rated college basketball picks this season, and find out.
