UMass vs. Northern Illinois Dunkel Predictions & Vegas Odds - Jan. 17

The UMass Minutemen (11-7, 2-4 MAC) visit the Northern Illinois Huskies (5-11, 1-4 MAC) at NIU Convocation Center, beginning at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 17, 2026. The Minutemen are 8-point favorites in the game. The matchup has a point total of 154.5.

UMass took care of business in its most recent matchup 85-82 against Western Michigan on Tuesday. Marcus Banks put up 22 points, four rebounds and one assist for UMass. Northern Illinois fell in its most recent matchup 77-59 against Eastern Michigan on Tuesday. Makhai Valentine scored 20 points in Northern Illinois' loss, leading the team.

UMass vs. Northern Illinois Odds and Game Time

• When: Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET
• Where: NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb, Illinois
• Spread favorite: UMass -8
• Moneyline favorite: UMass -410
• Moneyline underdog: Northern Illinois +315
• Over/Under: 154.5 points

How to watch UMass vs. Northern Illinois

• TV Channel: ESPN+
• Check out the rest of our Dunkel Index NCAA Basketball Picks!

Betting the Over/Under: UMass vs. Northern Illinois

• UMass and its opponents have combined to exceed Saturday's over/under of 154.5 points six times this season.
• Four of Northern Illinois' games have finished with a combined score over 154.5 points this season.
• The total for the game of 154.5 is 0.4 points fewer than the combined points per game averages for the Minutemen (80.8) and Huskies (74.1).
• This game's total is 2.0 fewer points than the 152.5 these two teams combine to give up per game in 2024.
• On average, UMass has had a 155.2-point over/under in its games this season, 0.7 more points than the over/under in this contest.
• The over/under for this game is 2.2 points higher than the average over/under in Northern Illinois' games this season of 152.3.

Betting the Spread: UMass vs. Northern Illinois

• UMass has eight wins against the spread in 17 games this year.
• The Minutemen have been favored by 8 points or more five times this season and have covered the spread in two of them.
• Northern Illinois has six wins against the spread in 14 games this year.
• So far this season, the Huskies have been installed as underdogs by an 8-point margin or more seven times and are 5-2 ATS in those games.
• Northern Illinois has one win against the spread, and is 2-3 overall, at home this year.
• UMass has one win against the spread, and are 1-2 overall, in away games.

Betting the Moneyline: UMass vs. Northern Illinois

• UMass has been the moneyline favorite in 10 games this season and won seven (70%) of those contests.
• The Minutemen have entered five games this season favored by -410 or more, and won each of those games.
• The oddsmakers' moneyline implies a 80.4% chance of a victory for UMass.
• Northern Illinois has come away with one win in the 11 contests it has been listed as the moneyline underdog this season.
• This season, the Huskies have come away with a win one times in eight chances when named as an underdog of at least +315 or longer on the moneyline.
• Northern Illinois has an implied victory probability of 24.1% according to the moneyline set by oddsmakers for this matchup.