The 2024 America East Tournament final is set for Saturday as the top-seeded Vermont Catamounts (27-6) take on the second-seeded UMass Lowell River Hawks (22-9). The Catamounts are no stranger to March Madness, making the NCAA Tournament nine times since 2003, including the past two. UMass Lowell jumped to Division I during the 2013-14 season and is still looking for its first trip to the Big Dance.
Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. ET in Burlington, Vt. The Catamounts are 7.5-point favorites in the latest UMass Lowell vs. Vermont odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under is 135.5. Before locking in your Vermont vs. UMass Lowell picks in the America East final, make sure you check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the proven SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered 2024 conference championship week on a 145-104 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 28-18 (+820) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on UMass Lowell vs. Vermont and revealed its CBB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Vermont vs. UMass Lowell:
- Vermont vs. UMass Lowell point spread: Vermont -7.5
- Vermont vs. UMass Lowell over/under: 135.5 points
- Vermont vs. UMass Lowell money line: Vermont -325, UMass Lowell +260
- UML: The River Hawks are 4-2 against the spread as an underdog this season.
- VM: The Catamounts are 10-8 ATS in conference games this season.
- Vermont vs. UMass Lowell picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Vermont can cover
The Catamounts feature three double-digit scorers as TJ Long (12.2 ppg), Aaron Deloney (10.9 ppg) and Shamir Bogues (10.9 ppg) all average 10 or more points. However, the Catamounts are best known for their defense, which gives up just 63 points per game, ranking 10th nationally and first in the America East.
Only one America East team scored more than 72 against Vermont this season as the Catamounts clamped down on league opponents on the way to a 15-1 conference record. UMass Lowell only mustered 62 and 65 points against Vermont in the two regular season matchups. See which team to pick here.
Why UMass Lowell can cover
The River Hawks, on the other hand, play a frenetic, fast-paced style that can overwhelm opponents when they get going. They are also efficient despite playing a volatile style that involves a high volume of shot attempts and possessions. UMass Lowell led the American East in scoring at 80.6 points per game and average margin of victory at 9.8 points per contest. The River Hawks are both fast and physical, as evidenced by them leading the conference in nearly every rebounding category, including total rebounds (40.8 rpg), offensive rebounds (11.5) and opponent rebounds (33.3).
Although they lack Vermont's overall depth, the River Hawks are efficient as all five starters average double figures in scoring and their top two bench players combine for more than 18 points per game. Senior guard Yuri Covington led four players in double figures in the 77-70 semifinal win over Bryant with 17 points. See which team to pick here.
How to make Vermont vs. UMass Lowell picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting 145 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Vermont vs. UMass Lowell, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Vermont vs. UMass Lowell spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 28-18 roll on top-ranked college basketball spread picks, and find out.
