March Madness always delivers drama, surprises, and tightly contested games, and the First Four matchup between the UMBC Retrievers and the Howard Bison promises to be no exception. Both teams enter the game with momentum and an opportunity to advance. The betting markets anticipate a tight game, as fans are likely to witness a competitive matchup on the court.
How To Watch UMBC vs. Howard
The fans of both teams will be able to watch this game live during the First Four of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
TV Channel: truTV
Live Stream Options
- NCAA March Madness Live
- Paramount+
- Max
- Sling TV
- Fubo
Game Time
- 6:40 p.m. ET
- 4:40 p.m. MST
- Date Tuesday, March 17
The matchup will kick off the early wave of tournament games and is expected to draw strong interest from college basketball fans looking for the first drama of March Madness.
Betting information
The sportsbooks are now estimating a close game between the two programs. Retrievers have a slight lead by odds provided by big betting websites like DraftKings and BetMGM.
Current Betting Lines
- Spread: UMBC -1.5
- Moneyline: UMBC -122, Howard +102
- Over/Under: 140.5
The narrow gap is a testament to the similarity of these teams.
Why UMBC Has the Edge
Most observers are predicting that UMBC has a small edge. The Retrievers have demonstrated excellent offensive continuity all through the season and enter the game with a 12-game winning streak. Their ability to score efficiently and maintain a consistent pace of play has been a key factor behind their recent success.
If UMBC wins, they would then advance to compete with the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball in the next round.
Could Howard Pull Off the Upset?
According to some computer projections of OddsShark, Howard might shock the world and win. In one simulated projection, the Bison has a projected forecast of a 75-71 win, which demonstrates how close the game might be. Upsets are a usual occurrence in March Madness.
Final Prediction
All the teams can continue to advance, but the general agreement among analysts would give UMBC a slight advantage since it has a winning streak. At only a few points apart, fans will have to anticipate a tight and competitive game.
