New Hampshire Wildcats vs UMBC Retrievers Picks and Predictions for Saturday March 7 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/07/2026, 01:50 AM ET

The New Hampshire Wildcats face the UMBC Retrievers in the America East Playoffs Quarterfinal on Saturday March 7, 2026 at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM and the game will be televised on ESPN+. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more expert predictions and betting insights on today’s games.

Wildcats Trying to Build Momentum

The New Hampshire Wildcats enter the America East tournament with a 9-20 overall record and a 5-11 mark in conference play. New Hampshire has struggled throughout the season but comes into the postseason with some confidence after picking up a dramatic double-overtime win in their most recent outing. The Wildcats recently won over Bryant, recently lost to Albany, recently lost to Binghamton, recently lost to Maine, and recently lost to UMass Lowell.

Offensively, New Hampshire averages 69.2 points per game while allowing 74.3 points per game on defense. The Wildcats shoot 41% from the field and average 35.7 rebounds per game along with 11.2 assists. Defensively they contribute 2.3 blocks and 6.3 steals per contest.

New Hampshire’s best path to staying competitive in this matchup is controlling the boards and limiting second-chance opportunities. The Wildcats match UMBC in rebounding average, which could help them keep possessions even and prevent the Retrievers from pulling away early.

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UMBC Dominating the Conference

The UMBC Retrievers enter this quarterfinal as one of the strongest teams in the America East with a 21-8 overall record and an impressive 14-2 conference record. UMBC finished the regular season on a strong run and will host this matchup with plenty of momentum. The Retrievers recently won over NJIT, recently won over UMass Lowell, recently won over Bryant, recently won over Albany, and recently won over Vermont.

UMBC averages 75.5 points per game while allowing just 67.1 points per contest. The Retrievers shoot 47% from the field and average 35.7 rebounds per game while dishing out 12.3 assists. They also contribute 2.6 blocks and 5.0 steals per game defensively.

One of UMBC’s biggest advantages is its balanced offense combined with strong defensive efficiency. The Retrievers not only score consistently but also hold opponents under 70 points per game, making them one of the most well-rounded teams in the conference heading into tournament play.

New Hampshire vs UMBC Pick

New Hampshire Wildcats vs UMBC Retrievers Pick

Pick: UMBC Retrievers - Spread

UMBC enters this matchup with the clear edge in overall record, offensive production, and defensive efficiency. The Retrievers are also playing at home and have been one of the most consistent teams in the conference all season. With New Hampshire struggling defensively, UMBC should be able to create scoring runs and gradually pull away.

New Hampshire Wildcats vs UMBC Retrievers Total Pick

Pick: Over

I see this total leaning toward the over because UMBC’s offense has been extremely productive and capable of putting up points in bunches. Even if New Hampshire struggles to score consistently, UMBC’s pace and efficiency could push the total high enough to clear the number.

Final Score Prediction: UMBC 79, New Hampshire 66

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