NJIT Highlanders vs Iona Gaels Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Week 1

Iona won a 56-55 rock fight over Vermont behind two guards who scored 45 of its points. NJIT scored 58 at Dayton and now plays its second straight road game in New Rochelle.

The Matchup

NJIT visits Iona on Thursday night at the Hynes Athletics Center in New Rochelle, with Iona a 9.5-point favorite, a total of 147.5, on ESPN+. Iona's first game was a one-point escape. NJIT's first game was a 31-point loss. The spread sits between those two results, and the question is which opener says more.

Last season Iona finished 18-14, scoring 73.8 points a game and allowing 73.1. NJIT finished 16-17, scoring 67.0 and allowing 73.2. This season, Iona beat Vermont 56-55 at home, holding a good program to 55 points. NJIT lost 89-58 at Dayton in the first of two straight road games to open its season.

Key Factors

Iona's backcourt won its opener almost by itself. Kevon Vanderhorst scored 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting, made 3 of 4 three-pointers, and added 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Kosy Akametu scored 18 on 8-of-15 with 2 steals of his own. Together they produced 45 of Iona's 56 points, which is both the strength and the shape of this team right now: two guards who can get a shot whenever the offense stalls, in a building where they just played 40 hard minutes.

NJIT had no such outlet at Dayton. Matheo Coffi led the Highlanders with 12 points, and David Bolden went scoreless on 0-of-6 shooting with 4 turnovers, the kind of night a young backcourt has in a loud road gym. The Highlanders now play a second straight road game, against a defense that just held Vermont to 55 points. NJIT scored 67.0 a game last season and allowed 73.2, so the Highlanders need their guards to be much better than they were Monday just to keep this close.

The counterpoint is Iona's own offense, because 56 points is 56 points. The Gaels needed every one of Vanderhorst's 27 to beat Vermont by a single point, and their frontcourt gave them almost nothing: Keyshawn Mitchell scored 1 point on 0-of-7 shooting.

If NJIT packs the paint, dares the rest of the roster to score, and Iona goes cold from three, a 9.5-point cover is a big ask for a team that just won 56-55. The bet is that NJIT's offense is in worse shape than Iona's, on the road, against the defense that looked real on opening night.

Every pick is published with its line before the game. Odds via consensus sportsbooks at time of writing and move constantly. Must be 21+. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.