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Massachusetts Minutemen vs Northern Illinois Huskies Picks and Predictions – January 17, 2026
Saturday’s non-conference matchup features the Massachusetts Minutemen traveling to take on the Northern Illinois Huskies at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb, Illinois. Tip-off is scheduled for January 17, 2026, in a game where UMass looks to maintain its momentum, while NIU tries to stop the bleeding at home.
The Minutemen are listed as -8.5 favorites (-107), while the Huskies are +8.5 underdogs (-120). On the moneyline, UMass is -409 and Northern Illinois is +293. The total is set at 154.5, indicating potential for an uptempo game with plenty of possessions.
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Massachusetts Minutemen vs Northern Illinois Huskies Odds
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| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | -409 | -8.5 (-107) | O 154.5 |
| Northern Illinois | +293 | +8.5 (-120) | U 154.5 |
Massachusetts Minutemen Betting Form
UMass continues to trend upward, winning four of their last five behind an offense that averages over 78 PPG. The Minutemen play with tempo and push the pace early, ranking among the national leaders in possessions per game. They’ve been lights-out from deep recently, and their assist-to-turnover ratio is improving.
On defense, Massachusetts still gives up points — especially in transition — but their pressure schemes often disrupt less organized offenses. Road performance has been shaky at times, but against lower-tier teams, their talent tends to take over.
For full stat breakdowns, visit the Massachusetts Minutemen team page
For injury status, visit the Massachusetts injury report
Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Form
Northern Illinois is in the middle of a rough stretch, having dropped four straight and struggling to stay competitive in second halves. Offensively, the Huskies are inefficient, relying on isolation play and inconsistent three-point shooting. They average just under 70 PPG and lack strong bench scoring.
Defensively, NIU has struggled on the boards and allowed opponents to dictate tempo far too easily. They don’t create many turnovers, and their pick-and-roll defense has been exposed in recent games. At home, they’ve shown slightly better energy but haven’t been able to close out quality opponents.
Check performance data on the Northern Illinois Huskies stats and results
Review injury updates via the Northern Illinois injury report
Massachusetts vs Northern Illinois Matchup Breakdown
UMass has a major edge in athleticism, offensive flow, and tempo. If the Minutemen control the pace — which they likely will — they’ll get more scoring chances and cleaner looks in transition. Northern Illinois’ inability to keep up on the boards or stop dribble penetration will be costly.
The total at 154.5 could be in play, especially if Massachusetts gets hot early. NIU tends to play better at home offensively, and if they shoot above average, this could push toward the Over. Still, the main edge lies in the side.
UMass has more depth, better guard play, and a distinct style advantage. Unless they let off the gas, they should cover this number with a double-digit win.
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Massachusetts vs Northern Illinois Predictions and Best Bets
Massachusetts has proven they can blow out inferior teams when they control tempo, and Northern Illinois hasn’t shown enough resistance to expect a different outcome. This is a bad matchup for the Huskies, who will likely struggle to keep up for 40 minutes.
The spread at -8.5 offers value, even on the road. UMass is simply more polished on both ends, and unless they go ice cold from the perimeter, they’ll find enough scoring opportunities to cover.
The total could get interesting, but only if NIU contributes offensively — which is far from guaranteed.
Best Bet: Massachusetts -8.5 (-107)
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