The 2026 Hall of Fame Series opens in Boston on Friday with a Bay State matchup between the UMass Minutemen and the Boston College Eagles at TD Garden. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET. Boston College leads the all-time series 26-22, though UMass has won the last three meetings, including the 2025 contest. Both teams enter after season-opening victories: UMass defeated Troy, while Boston College handled Wagner.
Boston College is a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 144.5 points. The money line lists the Eagles at -235 and the Minutemen at +200. The SportsLine Projection Model, which has posted an 11-1 record on top-rated over/under college basketball picks since 2025, projects the total to finish under 144.5. The model notes that both teams went under in their openers — UMass and Troy combined for 131 points, and Boston College and Wagner combined for 126, with the Eagles holding Wagner to just 50 points. Citing early-season roster adjustments and an early tipoff in an NBA arena, the model gives the under a 51% hit rate with a projected total of 144 points.
Additionally, the model indicates one side of the spread hits in over 70% of simulations. Detailed spread picks are available via SportsLine.
