March 11, 2026Updated March 12, 2026, 12:12 a.m. ET
The UMass Minutemen (16-15) and No. 20 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (31-0) tussle Thursday morning ina Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinal in Cleveland, Ohio. Tip time at Rocket Arena will be 11 a.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the UMass vs. Miami (Ohio) odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.
UMass has not played since March 3 when it closed out its season with a 94-82 (Over 156.5) triumph over the +1.5 Ohio Bobcats. For the No. 8 seed in these brackets, that victory snapped a 6-game losing streak. That streak included a 86-77 home loss Feb. 17 to these RedHawks. UMass also lost 86-84 to Miami in a road tilt Jan. 27.
Miami — the No. 1 seed in Cleveland — also played Ohio in its final regular-season contest. In what marked their third consecutive 1-possession game, the RedHawks defeated the +4.5 Bobcats 110-108 (Over 159.5) in overtime. Miami is looking to win its first MAC tourney crown since 2007.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Watch NCAA basketball on Fubo!UMass vs. Miami (Ohio) odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 10:47 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): UMass +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Miami -300 (bet $300 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): UMass +7.5 (-110) | Miami -7.5 (-110)Over/Under (O/U): 163.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)UMass vs. Miami (Ohio) picks and predictionsPrediction
Miami (Ohio) 86, UMass 77
No interest; PASS.
The Minutemen are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games and 2-7 ATS across their last 9.
UMass has fared well against the Akron Zips and Miami, which are the top 2 favorites in MAC tourney betting. The Minutemen are a combined 0-3 vs. them, but lost by a combined total of 19 points. And UMass led Akron at halftime in their lone meeting (99-92 loss Feb. 13) and led MU inside the 10-minute mark of their 2 games. But a recent slide and an 8-day layoff are cause enough for concern as to make UMass a bit of a fade in a building that figures to be energized with throngs of Miami fans in attendance.
Miami has had a couple of 3-game efficiency slides during the regular season. The RedHawks came out of both in good form, and this first tourney game could fit that pattern.
Senior F Leonardo Bettiol has fared well against Miami (40 points, 25 rebounds in 2 games), and he gives the Minutemen a big presence inside against an MU defense which is gettable down low. But the RedHawks have more scoring weapons up and down the roster, the key ability to generate free-throw chances (against a UMass team that sends foes to the line with great frequency) and a likely advantage in the turnover department.If Miami can advance all the way to a tourney final, it may well go 1-2 ATS in Cleveland. But MIAMI -7.5 (-110) is a worthy play in this quarterfinal.
Miami is a the MAC’s top-scoring squad at 90.9 points per game, and both Miami and UMass are high-possession-churn teams. But the last 10 RedHawks games have produced 8-2 for the Under, and that’s the lean, albeit a slight one, in this bracket lid-lifter.
Miami’s defensive-efficiency figures have been tightened up a bit over the second half of the season. The RedHawks are an excellent distance-shooting team, but their rate of attempts from beyond the arc has been on the wane. And the pace figures for both MU and UMass have showed some recent slow-down.
Mix in the UMass layoff and the neutral barn, and the UNDER 165.5 (-105) is worth a partial-unit play.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose.  While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling.  We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. All forms of betting carry financial risk and it is up to the individual to make bets with or without the assistance of information provided on this site and we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of following the betting tips provided on this site.  Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws.