UMBC Retrievers vs. Howard Bison, Picks and Prediction, Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Use Code WWWC UMBC (24-8, 14-2 American East) and Howard (23-10, 11-3 MEAC) will be trying to advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday when they meet at UD Arena in the First Four round of the tournament at 6:40 PM. ET. Read on to find out which team picks up the win in this Retrievers vs. Bison prediction. Struggling with handicapping? Try our NCAAB Predictions!
The Retrievers are coming off a 74-59 win over Vermont as 3.5-point favorites. The Bison are coming off a 70-63 win over NC Central as 11.5-point favorites.
Howard is 2-1 in three games against UMBC. The Retrievers won the last meeting between the two teams in 2024, 95-77.
UMBC Going For 13th Consecutive Win
The Retrievers won the American Conference regular season title, and they also won the conference tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018, when they knocked off top-seeded Virginia in the biggest upset in tournament history.
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They closed out the season with 12 straight wins and will try to pick up their 13th in a row when they play on Tuesday.
UMBC averages 76.2 points per game. They’ve made 47.1 percent of their field goals and 36.1 percent of their three-pointers.
Jah’Likai King leads UMBC with 13.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. DJ Armstrong Jr. averages 13.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while Ace Valentine averages 12 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
UMBC is giving up 67 points per game. Opponents have made 43.1 percent of their field goals and 32.2 percent of their three-pointers against them.
Howard Going For Ninth Consecutive Win
The Bison also pulled a double this season, winning the MEAC regular season and tournament titles, to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four seasons. They won eight straight games to close out the season and will try to pick up their ninth win in a row when they play on Tuesday.
Howard averages 77.5 points per game. They’ve made 46 percent of their field goals and 35 percent of their three-pointers.
Cedric Taylor III leads Howard with 17.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Bryce Harris averages 17.1 points and 2.5 assists per game, while Cam Gillus averages 10.6 points and 4.6 assists per game.
Howard is giving up 67.8 points per game. Opponents have made 42.2 percent of their field goals and 30.4 percent of their three-pointers against them.
UMBC vs. Howard Picks
Point Spread Pick for UMBC vs. Howard
- UMBC Retrievers -1.5 (4 Units)
The Retrievers have the edge in this game because they’re on a roll offensively, scoring more than 80 points per game in their last three games, making over 49 percent of their shots, while the Bison made less than 45 percent of theirs. They’ve also done a better job at the charity stripe, making over 83 percent of their free throws. They rebound the ball well and grab more than six offensive rebounds per game, which will give them extra-scoring chances. They also turned the ball over less than 10 times per game, and won’t give up many easy-scoring chances. The Bison usually play well defensively, but they haven’t been as good on the road, and will have a hard time slowing down the Retrievers. Take UMBC to cover the spread.
Over/Under Pick for UMBC vs. Howard
- Under 139.5 (4 Units)
The Retrievers average 76.2 points per game. They play at the 291st-fastest pace in the nation, averaging 68.3 possessions per game, and they’re facing a team that gave up 66.7 points per game in their last three games. The Bison average 77.5 points per game. They play at the 111th-fastest pace in the nation, averaging 71.8 possessions per game, and they’re facing a team that gave up 65.7 points per game in their last three games. Don’t expect these teams to score enough points to push the score over the total.
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