After starting 2026 off with a pair of losses, Bradley was able to right the ship with a 27-point win over Drake on Wednesday. The Braves (11-6 overall, 4-2 Missouri Valley Conference) scored 93 points in that win, which, outside of a triple-overtime victory against Indiana State, is the most they’ve scored this season.
Northern Iowa (12-4, 4-1) suffered its first conference loss of the campaign on Wednesday in a home tilt against Belmont. The Panthers’ usually stout defense struggled to contain Belmont’s efficiency and perimeter shooting as the Bruins shot 60% from the field and 48% from 3-point range.
If UNI allows Bradley to shoot at that rate, then it’ll likely be another long game for the Panthers.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
Northern Iowa at Bradley Odds
Bradley is a 3.5-point college basketball odds favorite on BetMGM against Northern Iowa, while the Over/Under is at 129.5 points.
The Moneyline for Bradley is at -225 and +185 for UNI.
Northern Iowa at Bradley On TV
The matchup between Northern Iowa and Bradley will be televised on ESPNU.
Tonight’s game tips off at 6 p.m. ET.
Northern Iowa at Bradley Prediction
I predict Northern Iowa covers the 3.5-point spread, but Bradley wins. I also predict this game goes under 129.5 points.
The Over/Under for this matchup is extremely low, and rightfully so. Per KenPom, the Panthers play at the slowest pace in the country. They work through the shot clock and hardly force any bad shots.
UNI also has one of the best defenses in the country and allows an effective field goal percentage of 45.3%, which is the 17th-best mark. The 26% it allows on 3-point attempts is the second-best in the nation. The Panthers are very active defensively and close out hard on shooters.
Belmont had answers for UNI’s defense, but the Bruins are much more efficient than Bradley. I don’t think the Braves can have that same type of success shooting the ball against the Panthers, even with Alex Huibregtse knocking down 3s. He is shooting 41.4% from deep this season. The Braves shoot a solid 36% from the outside.
I do, however, think he and Bradley can hit enough shots to find a way to win. It’ll also be crucial for Jaquan Johnson to handle UNI’s ball pressure and create good shots both for him and for his teammates. The sophomore guard leads the league with 16.9 points per game and is averaging 3.3 assists per game.
The Panthers rarely crash the offensive glass and don’t turn the ball over much. Because of this, they’re able to get set up defensively, which is one of the reasons they’re so sound on that end of the floor. Bradley forces a turnover on 21.6% of opponents’ possessions, so if it can create turnovers and get out and run, it should be able to keep UNI off-balance defensively. I think whether or not the Braves can do this will be the biggest key in this game.
The Panthers take care of the ball, though, but will be without one of their key players in Tristan Smith. His ability to work the middle of the floor and facilitate and create opportunities was missed against Belmont, and I think his absence will have a noticeable effect again against the Braves.
Smith also averages 5.3 rebounds per game, which is an area I think he will be especially missed. Behind 7-foot-1 Serbian center Ahmet Jonovic, the Braves should be able to control the boards in this matchup.
UNI’s defense can’t be dismissed, but I don’t think the Panthers will get enough done offensively against a decent Bradley defense to pick up the road win here.
