Northern Iowa vs Vermont College Basketball Picks, Odds, Predictions 11/11/2021
Vermont Catamounts (0-0) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (0-1)
November 11, 2021 6:00 pm EDT
The Line: Northern Iowa Panthers -2.5 / Vermont Catamounts +2.5; Over/Under: -
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The Vermont Catamounts and the Northern Iowa Panthers meet in college basketball action from the McLeod Center on Thursday night.
The Vermont Catamounts come into the 2021-22 season looking to build off of a 2020-21 season that saw the Catamounts finish 10-5 overall, including 10-4 in conference play to finish as co-champions in the America East conference. The Catamounts lost in the semifinals as the 2nd seed to Hartford by a final score of 71-65. The Catamounts lost the services of Stef Smith, but bring back leading scorer and rebounder Ryan Davis (18.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG) as well as point guard Ben Shungu (10.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.5 APG). Justin Mazzulla (8.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG) and Isaiah Powell (7.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG) are also back while Kam Gibson transfers in from Western Carolina, but still keeps Catamounts on the front of his jersey. Expectations are once again high for Vermont, but for good reason as the Catamounts have ended up at the big dance in three of the last five seasons.
The Northern Iowa Panthers come into this game looking to shake off their season opening 62-58 loss at the hands of Nicholls in their last matchup. Austin Phyfe led the charge, putting up 20 points on 5 of 8 shooting with a 9 of 14 mark from the foul line and a team-high 9 rebounds while Tywhon Pickford added 13 points with 5 rebounds and a pair of steals as the only other Northern Iowa player to score in double figures in the losing effort. UNI was held to just 30% shooting and a measly 13% from 3-point range in the loss.
Vermont is 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 road games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall while the over is 6-2 in their last 8 Thursday games. Northern Iowa is 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games overall and 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 home games while the under is 8-1 in their last 9 Thursday games.
I’d be lying if I said that I was impressed with the performance from UNI in their opener, but I think this team will improve as the season goes on. However, I’m not buying into that just yet against a Vermont team that year after year is one of the more underappreciated teams in the country. I think Vermont comes in with a real point to prove in this game and I think they prove it against the Panthers. Give me Vermont here.
