Iowa Hawkeyes vs Umass Lowell River Hawks Picks and Predictions December 29th 2025

Iowa Hawkeyes vs UMass Lowell River Hawks Picks and Predictions – December 29, 2025

The Iowa Hawkeyes close out their non-conference schedule at home on Monday night as they welcome UMass Lowell to Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Tipoff is set for 9:00 PM ET. Iowa sits at 9–3 overall and is looking to sharpen its defensive intensity before Big Ten play ramps up. The River Hawks, at 6–6, come in off a narrow win over Sacred Heart, but this is a massive step up in weight class.

The Hawkeyes are heavy favorites — by more than 20 points — and the total sits in the high 140s, a nod to Iowa’s high-paced, transition-heavy offense. While the SU result isn’t in doubt, bettors will be focused on whether Iowa can cover a spread north of three touchdowns — and if UMass Lowell can do enough to help the Over.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs UMass Lowell River Hawks Odds

Here are the current betting odds for this game. Be sure to check the latest college basketball odds closer to tipoff for updated lines and totals.

Team	Moneyline	Spread	Total
Iowa Hawkeyes	-10000	-23.5 (-110)	U 148.5 (-110)
UMass Lowell	+2000	+23.5 (-110)	O 148.5 (-110)

Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Form

Iowa plays fast, and they score in bunches. The Hawkeyes are averaging over 86 points per game and rank top 10 in the nation in adjusted tempo. Their offense flows through Tony Perkins and Payton Sandfort, who have both been lethal in transition and deadly from deep. They love to push off misses, and when they shoot well early, it snowballs fast.

Defensively, Iowa is still inconsistent. That’s why they haven’t covered every large spread this year. They’ll dominate offensively, but they sometimes allow too many second-chance looks or lose focus against weaker opponents. Still, at home, this is usually a spot where they lock in early and overwhelm teams with pace and depth.

For stats, pace metrics, and recent form, check the Iowa stats and results, and monitor the Iowa injury report before locking in your bets.

UMass Lowell River Hawks Betting Form

UMass Lowell is capable, but they’re not built for this. They play a balanced tempo, don’t shoot many threes, and try to win the turnover battle through fundamentals. The issue is they lack the size and transition defense to keep up with a team like Iowa, especially on the road.

Their top scorer, Ayinde Hikim, has been efficient, but he’ll need to have a near-perfect night to keep this close. The River Hawks give up over 74 points per game against better competition and could be overwhelmed in the first 10 minutes if they don’t control the pace from the start.

For a deeper look at their recent form, visit the UMass Lowell schedule and stats, and check the UMass Lowell injury report for any last-minute absences or rotation news.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs UMass Lowell River Hawks Matchup Breakdown

This game comes down to tempo. Iowa wants a track meet. UMass Lowell wants structure. If Iowa gets into transition early — and they usually do at home — this could get out of hand by halftime.

Key angles:

• Iowa’s depth is a mismatch. Their bench scores 30+ PPG and can extend leads late.
• UMass Lowell struggles with transition defense and ranks bottom 50 in opponent fast break efficiency.
• Iowa’s free throw rate is solid, and late fouling could inflate the margin.
• UMass Lowell has covered just once in five road games vs top-100 teams.

The total hinges on whether UMass Lowell can score 65+ — if not, Iowa would need a 90-point outing to clear the Over. That’s possible, but not automatic, especially if the second half drags or Iowa rotates early.

Iowa Hawkeyes vs UMass Lowell River Hawks Predictions and Best Bets

This isn’t a game Iowa will overlook. They’ve been sharp at home, and the athletic gap is wide. I’d lean toward the Hawkeyes covering -23.5, even if the backdoor risk exists. Their pace, firepower, and ability to build margin fast should carry the number if they stay engaged.

The total is a tougher read. Iowa will score, but UMass Lowell doesn’t play fast enough to guarantee the Over hits — especially if they struggle to make shots. With Iowa’s defense tightening recently, and UMass Lowell unlikely to force tempo, I lean just slightly to the Under.

Best Bet: Iowa -23.5 (-110).

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