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UMass vs. Northern Illinois prediction: Massachusetts favored to win men's college basketball matchup [1/17/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Dave Garofolo, Content Producer
Get UMass vs Northern Illinois predictions for college basketball Saturday.
Northern Illinois and UMass will meet in men's college basketball action at NIU Convocation Center on Saturday, starting at 3:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' proven college basketball model predicts Massachusetts as the most likely winner of the UMass vs. Northern Illinois game.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Saturday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and picks.
UMass vs. Northern Illinois prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using innovative machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Saturday's NCAA basketball game between UMass and Northern Illinois 10,000 times as part of our men's college basketball predictions coverage.
Our famous predictive model currently gives Massachusetts a 78% chance of beating Northern Illinois. Our predicted final score has Massachusetts winning 83-74.
According to our model, Massachusetts (-8.5) has a 51% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 157.5 points has a 52% chance of going over.
UMass vs. Northern Illinois odds
We have researched the best men's college basketball odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | UMass | Northern Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -8.5 (-102) | +8.5 (-110) |
| Moneyline | -395 | +310 |
| Total | o157.5 (-108) | u157.5 (-112) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
UMass vs. Northern Illinois picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Massachusetts -8.5 | -102 |
| Moneyline | Massachusetts | -395 |
| Total | Over 157.5 | -108 |
According to our men's college basketball best bets, the top play to make on this game is Massachusetts -8.5 at the spread.
UMass vs. Northern Illinois game-day updates and essential details
Saturday's men's college basketball action between Northern Illinois and UMass at NIU Convocation Center is scheduled to commence at 3:00 PM ET.
- Who: Massachusetts vs. Northern Illinois
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Time: 3:00 PM ET/12:00PM PT
- Venue: NIU Convocation Center
Conclusion
We predict Massachusetts, with a 78% win probability, will likely beat Northern Illinois on Saturday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Massachusetts vs. Northern Illinois insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Dave Garofolo uses sophisticated AI-driven analytics to make predictions and evaluate player performances in the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, NCAAM, and PGA TOUR tournaments, crafting insightful game and prop previews.
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