Massachusetts vs. Northern Illinois Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Saturday, January 17, 2026
Use Code WWWC On Saturday, the Massachusetts Minutemen will play the Northern Illinois Huskies on the hardwood, and we have you ready to go with our Massachusetts vs. Northern Illinois prediction, odds, and preview. Tip-off from DeKalb, IL, is at 3:00 p.m. ET.
These college basketball programs are playing eachother for the first time as Mid-American Conference opponents. The Minutemen joined the MAC this season after departing the A-10. UMass and NIU last faced off on the hardwood in 2013, a game the Minutemen dominated 80-54. If you want the Massachusetts vs. Northern Illinois prediction, read on to get our top NCAAB predictions and increase your bankroll!
Can UMass build off consecutive victories?
Massachusetts (11-7 SU, 8-9 ATS, and 11-6 O/U) defeated Western Michigan 85-82 on Tuesday night. The Minutemen, who are 2-4 in conference play this season, shot 48 percent from the field and scored 30 in the paint. They led for nearly 80 percent of the game and were ahead by as many as 16 points.
The Minutemen were picked to finish fifth in the MAC's preseason poll. They are led by fourth-year coach Frank Martin, who is 54-50 during his tenure in Amherst. He previously coached at Kansas State for five seasons and at South Carolina for ten seasons, leading his teams to five combined NCAA Tournament appearances and one Final Four (2017). UMass scores 80.8 points per game (147th) on 46.5 percent shooting (126th), including 34.6 percent from deep (147th). Defensively, the Minutemen give up 74.4 points per game (155th) on 43.9 percent shooting (200th), including 28.9 percent from long range (22nd).
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Massachusetts is paced by senior forward Leonardo Bettiol, a transfer who spent the previous three seasons at Abilene Christian. He averages 16.6 points on 61.7 percent shooting and grabs 7.4 rebounds per contest. A few other Minutemen players to watch in Saturday's conference clash with Northern Illinois are senior guard Marcus Banks Jr. (16.2 PPG and 2.7 RPG), senior forward Daniel Hankins-Sanford (12.0 PPG and 7.1 RPG), and junior guard K'Jei Parker (11.8 PPG and 2.6 APG).
Massachusetts Minutemen Injury Report:
- No injuries to report.
Huskies lost their mojo in the second half on Tuesday
Northern Illinois (5-11 SU, 6-8 ATS, and 4-10 O/U) lost 77-59 to Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, failing to cover the spread as 8.5-point underdogs. The Huskies, who have dropped four straight since winning their MAC opener, trailed by only two at halftime, but were blown away after the break. The Eagles shot 49 percent overall with a dominant presence in the paint (44 points). NIU shot 36 percent from the field and 24 percent from beyond the arc.
The Huskies were predicted to finish 13th (last) in the MAC's preseason poll. They are led by fourth-year coach Rashon Burno, who has compiled a 39-85 record in DeKalb. He got his coaching career started at Marmion Academy in Aurora and was an assistant at the collegiate level with Towson, Manhattan, Florida, and Arizona State. The Huskies score 74.2 points per game (276th) on 42.7 percent shooting (302nd), including 32.0 percent from deep (266th). Defensively, Northern Illinois allows 78.2 points per game (258th) on 48.2 percent shooting (345th), including 32.0 percent from three-point distance (117th).
NIU is led by sophomore guard Makhai Valentine, a transfer who spent last season at Missouri State. He averages 13.5 points on 41.3 percent shooting and collects 5.7 rebounds per game. A few other Huskies to watch in Saturday's MAC game against UMass are freshman guard Dylan Ducommun (12.6 PPG and 3.6 APG), freshman forward Gustav Winther (9.2 PPG and 5.4 RPG), and sophomore guard Gianni Cobb (7.6 PPG and 4.0 APG).
Northern Illinois Huskies Injury Report:
- No injuries to report.
Massachusetts vs. Northern Illinois Pick and Preview
Spread Pick for Massachusetts vs. Northern Illinois
- Huskies cover (4 Units)
UMass is the team with the winning record straight-up, but it's 2-4 ATS in its last six games, and its spread record isn't much better than Northern Illinois' record. The Huskies will keep the score close at home on Saturday to cover, attacking a Minutemen team that's been soft defensively lately. According to Haslametrics, Massachusetts ranks 339th nationally in defensive momentum, as it has underperformed its projected defensive efficiency rating in five straight games. NIU, meanwhile, has outperformed its defensive efficiency projection in three consecutive games and ranks 38th nationally in defensive momentum. Plus, the Huskies are more well-balanced (seven players average between 6.9 PPG and 13.5 PPG) than the Minutemen (four players account for 70.0% of their points).
Bet on Northern Illinois to cover!
Over/Under Pick for Massachusetts vs. Northern Illinois
- Under (5 Units)
I recommend a wager on the under in Saturday's MAC game in DeKalb.
The total has gone under the number in 10 of NIU's 14 games with betting totals this season, including 9 of the last 11. The Huskies' offense has been the main reason for that, as they rank outside the top 300 in offensive efficiency rating, field goal percentage, free-throw percentage, mid-range percentage, near-proximity percentage, and three-point percentage. They have significantly underachieved offensively on several occasions this season, including their previous two games. That said, NIU has stepped up defensively recently and will work hard to compete on that end of the court in front of its home crowd. UMass also shoots well under 70 percent from the free-throw line, which should help keep the total under the number.
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