The No. 23 Miami (Ohio) Redhawks, boasting an impressive 25-0 record and sitting atop the MAC with a 12-0 conference mark, will clash with the UMass Minutemen, who stand at 15-11 and 6-7 in the conference, on Tuesday evening. The matchup will take place at the Mullins Center in Amherst, Massachusetts, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and the game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
In their previous encounter on January 27, the Redhawks narrowly defeated the Minutemen 86-84 in a thrilling game where UMass managed to cover the 9.5-point spread. Notably, UMass forward Leonardo Bettiol delivered an impressive performance, recording 22 points and 16 rebounds, while Miami forward Eian Elmer led all scorers with 30 points and added key contributions in other areas.
Miami arrives at this game following a solid victory against the Ohio Bobcats, winning convincingly by a score of 90-74, effectively covering as a 7.5-point favorite. This victory marked the second consecutive time the Redhawks clinched a win with that exact score, and they maintain a strong record against the spread, going 3-1 in their last four games and 16-6 overall this season. The Redhawks’ scoring prowess has been notable, with the “Over” hitting in six of their last eight games.
On the other hand, UMass is facing some challenges, having lost their last two matches and allowing at least 89 points in each of those contests, including a recent 99-92 defeat to the Akron Zips. They have struggled against the spread as well, going 1-3 in their last four outings and 3-7 across the previous ten games.
According to BetMGM Sportsbook’s latest odds, Miami (Ohio) is favored, with a moneyline of -160, while UMass is set at +135. The spread reflects a tight contest, with Miami being a 2.5-point favorite. The Over/Under is established at 163.5 points.
Expert predictions suggest that UMass may surprise as home underdogs, tipping the scales towards an 87-83 win against the unbeaten Redhawks, who have relied on close victories in recent games. A conservative bet on UMass at +2.5 could prove worthwhile against the unblemished Miami team.
Additionally, the Over 163.5 offers a strong betting opportunity, especially considering Miami’s offensive strength, averaging 92.6 points per game, and UMass’s high-scoring ability, contributing to exciting gameplay and potentially another high-scoring affair.
As college basketball ramps up with thrilling matchups and high stakes, fans can anticipate another exciting night of action.