Nov 12, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; UMass Lowell River Hawks guard Ayinde Hikim (2) passes the ball while being defended by Rutgers Scarlet Knights center Clifford Omoruyi (11) during the second half at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
The No. 3 New Hampshire Wildcats will meet the No. 2 UMass Lowell River Hawks in the semifinals of the America East Playoffs today.
These teams split their regular-season series, though the River Hawks’ 92-55 victory last month was much more impressive than the Wildcats’ 69-65 win in January.
As a result, UMass Lowell finds itself a huge favorite after covering the spread in five consecutive dominant performances.
I see clear betting value on one side of this matchup, so let’s check out the odds before breaking it down.
New Hampshire vs. UMass Lowell Odds, Spread, and Total
New Hampshire vs. UMass Lowell Prediction and Pick
UMass Lowell has a significant edge in nearly every facet of this matchup. Thus, I’m backing the River Hawks to cover the spread for a sixth consecutive game despite the large number.
Offensively, UMass Lowell ranks 40th nationally in effective field goal percentage (53.7%) while New Hampshire is a disastrous 341st (45.7%). Defensive rankings favor the River Hawks as well, as they’re 28th in opponent effective field goal percentage (46.8%) compared to 91st for the Wildcats (48.8%).
The River Hawks are much better on the glass as well, with the 10th-best offensive rebounding percentage in the country (36.1%). New Hampshire is outside of the top 125 teams in offensive and defensive rebounding, so UMass should have no problem gobbling up its own misses.
Finally, UMass is in the top 25 in both two-point defense and 3-point shooting. The Wildcats, on the other hand, are outside of the top 200 in both two-point AND three-point shooting percentages.
There’s no real path for New Hampshire to keep this competitive without divine interference. Back the River Hawks to keep rolling and cover the number.
—
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
