The UMBC Retrievers will host the Albany Great Danes in America East play on Thursday. UMBC is 2-2 over its last four games following a four-game losing streak. Albany had its two-game winning streak snapped in a 71-60 loss to New Hampshire on Saturday. The Retrievers are 13-16 overall, including 5-9 in the America East. The Great Danes are 14-14, including 6-7 in the conference. UMBC defeated Albany, 92-87, in overtime in Albany on Jan. 23 in their first meeting of the season.
Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ET on Thursday from the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, Md. Albany is favored by 1.5 points in the latest UMBC vs. Albany odds, while the over/under is 157.5 points per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Albany vs. UMBC picks, you’ll want to see the college basketball predictions from the advanced computer model at SportsLine.
The model simulates every Division 1 college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 17 of the 2024-25 season on a 220-160 betting roll (+2005) on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to 2023. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Albany vs. UMBC. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball betting lines for the UMBC vs. Albany game:
- Albany vs. UMBC spread: Albany -1.5
- Albany vs. UMBC over/under: 157.5 points
- Albany vs. UMBC money line: Albany -133, UMBC +112
- ALB: The Under has hit in five of Albany’s last seven games
- UMBC: The Over has hit in 13 of UMBC’s past 17 games
- Albany vs. UMBC picks: See picks here
- Albany vs. UMBC streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why Albany can cover
The Great Danes will want to eliminate all memory of their 71-60 loss to New Hampshire as 13-point favorites on Saturday. Albany won back-to-back games and three of four contests entering Saturday with three different leading scorers over those four games. Fifth-year senior guard Byron Joshua leads Albany with 13.9 points per game and has scored at least 19 points in three of his last five games. Joshua had a team-high 20 points against New Hampshire while making 13 of 14 foul shots.
Albany forces the second-most steals per game (7.5) in America East play this season, while UMBC has the second-most turnovers per game (12.1) in the conference. If the Great Danes can create additional possessions through pressure defense, that can make a substantial difference on Thursday. See which team to pick here.
Why UMBC can cover
The Retrievers are coming off their best offensive performance in America East play this season in a 95-91 victory over NJIT on Saturday. UMBC shot 49.2% from the field, including 46.9% on 3-pointers with 15 made triples in its highest-scoring conference game this year. Senior guard Marcus Banks Jr. had 35 points, including making 9 of 15 3-pointers (60%), while senior guard Bryce Johnson had 19 points.
UMBC defeated Albany, 92-87, on the road in overtime on Jan. 23 in their first matchup of the season. The Retrievers have won three straight against Albany and are 7-2 head-to-head since the beginning of the 2020-21 season. Johnson is third in America East games in scoring with 18.9 points per game and he had 23 points with Banks adding 21 in their first matchup this year. See which team to pick here.
How to make Albany vs. UMBC picks
The model has simulated UMBC vs. Albany 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is going Over the total, and it also says one side of the spread hits 70% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Albany vs. UMBC, and which side of the spread hits 70% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the UMBC vs. Albany spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 220-160 roll on top-rated college basketball picks, and find out.
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