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Massachusetts-Lowell heads to Newark on Thursday, February 5, 2026 for a 7:00 PM ET tip at the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center, with this America East matchup airing on ESPN+. The market is basically calling it a coin flip, but the profiles aren’t identical. UMass Lowell brings the higher-scoring offense, while NJIT brings the better home stability and the confidence of a marquee league win last time out.
The River Hawks are 9-14 and have had a rough time away from home at 3-11, even though they just popped Maine 91-77 behind a monster 30 from Angel Montas Jr. NJIT is 11-12, sits 5-3 at home, and is coming off a tight 79-77 win over Vermont. That kind of result usually matters the next game, because it reinforces late-game composure and buy-in. The question is whether NJIT can control the pace enough to keep UMass Lowell from playing downhill.
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Massachusetts-Lowell vs NJIT Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor movement as tip approaches and keep an eye on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks | — | +1.5 (-115) | O 148.5 |
| NJIT Highlanders | — | -1.5 (-105) | U 148.5 |
Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks Betting Form
UMass Lowell’s offense has real juice when the shot-making shows up. They’re at 75.1 points per game and a 46.7% field goal rate, which is a clean efficiency baseline for a short-number underdog. The Maine game was the ceiling version, with Montas Jr. getting whatever he wanted and Darrel Yepdo facilitating and filling gaps. When that two-man production is functioning, the River Hawks can score in multiple ways without needing to spam threes or pray for transition.
The hard part is translating it on the road. A 3-11 away mark is not a small sample blip. It suggests their offense is easier to disrupt in unfamiliar settings, and if they fall behind early, their defense doesn’t always create the type of stops that let them reset. Still, they rebound well enough to keep possessions alive, and Austin Green gives them a steady interior presence that can travel when jumpers don’t. If you want a quick snapshot of how their offense and pace have behaved game to game, Massachusetts-Lowell stats and results can be tracked through the NCAAB teams hub.
NJIT Highlanders Betting Form
NJIT is not a high-output offense, and that’s the biggest reason the favorite price stays modest even at home. They average 68.3 points per game, and a lot of their wins are built on making the game uncomfortable and executing late. The Vermont win is a perfect example. It wasn’t dominant, but it was controlled in the moments that matter, and Sebastian Robinson plus David Bolden are the kind of guards who can carry a close game without forcing everything.
At home, NJIT has been more stable, and that’s important here because UMass Lowell’s best path is getting into rhythm early. If NJIT can keep the River Hawks out of the paint and make them finish possessions with tougher looks, the game starts to tilt toward the Highlanders’ preferred environment. They don’t need to score 80 to win. They just need to keep UMass Lowell from getting comfortable and then make the right reads late.
Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks vs NJIT Highlanders Matchup Breakdown
The matchup hinges on pace and shot quality. UMass Lowell wants a game that feels open, where their better scoring average shows up and they can stack runs off made shots. NJIT wants a game that feels tight, where every possession is a decision and the total number of possessions is limited. If NJIT controls that tempo, it also pulls the total down and makes it harder for UMass Lowell’s offense to win purely on volume.
Rebounding is a key swing point. UMass Lowell’s ability to extend possessions can keep them in the game even if their initial shot quality dips. But if NJIT can finish defensive possessions cleanly, the River Hawks lose one of their best ways to cover small numbers. On the other end, NJIT doesn’t score a ton, so they can’t afford empty trips. If they’re giving away transition chances or getting sped up, that’s when the +1.5 side becomes dangerous.
This is also a spot where game script matters more than raw averages. If UMass Lowell starts hot, the Over becomes live fast and NJIT has to chase. If NJIT drags it into a half-court fight early, the Under becomes the natural angle and the favorite’s late-game profile looks better. That’s the basic sports betting strategy guide lens I use for short spreads with a relatively high total.
UC Irvine Anteaters
vs
CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners
Open
vs
Feb 05, 2026 22:00 EST
–
Score
–
-16.00 -110
Spread
+16.00 -110
o+145.50-110
Total
u+145.50-110
-2,000
Moneyline
+1,100
CSU Fullerton Titans
vs
UC Riverside Highlanders
Open
vs
Feb 05, 2026 22:00 EST
–
Score
–
-6.50 -110
Spread
+6.50 -110
o+155.00-110
Total
u+155.00-110
-333
Moneyline
+260
Cal Baptist Lancers
vs
Tarleton State Texans
Open
vs
Feb 05, 2026 22:00 EST
–
Score
–
-9.50 -110
Spread
+9.50 -110
o+141.50-110
Total
u+141.50-110
-526
Moneyline
+385
Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks vs NJIT Highlanders Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Massachusetts-Lowell +1.5. The simplest reason is that they’re the better scoring team, and in a near pick’em spread, that matters. NJIT’s home edge is real, but the River Hawks’ offense gives them a higher ceiling, and they’re coming off a game where the attack looked sharp and confident. I don’t need them to dominate, I just need them to stay within one possession, and their scoring profile supports that.
On the total, I lean Under 148.5. The combined scoring averages sit below this number, and NJIT’s best path is controlling pace and forcing longer possessions. The risk is obvious: UMass Lowell just put up 91, and if they turn this into a cleaner, faster game than NJIT wants, 148.5 can get uncomfortable. Still, the more likely script is NJIT trying to shrink the game and UMass Lowell facing at least a few scoring drought stretches on the road.
Best Bet: Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks +1.5 (-115).
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NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Games like this are where staying consistent with process matters. Short spreads, modest home edges, and conflicting tempo profiles can make a number look “easy” when it’s really not. The better approach is comparing matchups across the slate and only playing the ones where the script and the price line up.
If you’re building a Thursday card, start with today’s college basketball picks and narrow down to spots where you can tell a clear story for how the game is likely to be played. It keeps you from forcing action and it helps you spot when a short spread is really just a question of tempo control, late-game execution, and which team can repeat its identity away from home.
