UC San Diego Tritons vs
UC Riverside HighlandersPredictions & Preview

UC San Diego Favored to Win Big West Conference Showdown Against UC Riverside - Expert Prediction and Analysis预

On Saturday, January 18, 2025, college basketball betting action will feature a Big West Conference showdown between UC San Diego and UC Riverside at SRC Arena in Riverside, CA. The Tritons aim for their third consecutive victory over the Highlanders in their first matchup of the season. UC San Diego is favored to win with an opening line of -10.5, which has since shifted slightly to -10.25. Stay tuned for our expert prediction on this game, as it is one of our NCAAB picks for Saturday.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Tritons -586 | Highlanders +429
• Spread: Tritons -10.25 (-110) | Highlanders +10.25 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 141 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that UC San Diego will win straight-up is 85%.

UC San Diego vs UC Riverside Stats

UC San Diego Tritons

The UC San Diego Tritons rebounded from a previous defeat against UC Irvine with a convincing victory over Long Beach State, securing a 5-1 conference record. The team showcased strong offensive performance, shooting 57.7% from the field and outscoring their opponent in the paint and from beyond the arc. Key players such as Tyler McGhie and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones led the team in scoring and rebounding. The Tritons have an impressive power ranking of 29 and are ranked highly in both offensive and defensive categories. With a record of 15-3 and favorable statistics in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds, and assists, UC San Diego is a force to be reckoned with in college basketball.

UC Riverside Highlanders Analysis

The UC Riverside Highlanders have recently suffered three consecutive losses, including a close defeat to UC Santa Barbara where Stephan D. Swenson hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Despite the efforts of standout player Barrington Hargress, the team has struggled offensively, shooting just 35.4% from the field. Hargress leads the team in scoring and assists this season. The Highlanders rank 174th in the NCAA NET Rankings and have a power ranking of 128. On offense, they average 71.28 points per game and have struggled with shooting percentages, while on defense, they allow 72.33 points per game. Despite their recent losses, they have shown potential and are worth monitoring for potential betting opportunities.

Highlanders Expected to Fall to Tritons Due to Superior Defense and Turnover Rates

It is anticipated that the Highlanders will continue their current losing streak against the Tritons. The Tritons' strong defensive capabilities should be able to limit Barrington Hargress's offensive contributions, as he expends significant energy guarding Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones and Tyler McGhie. In comparison, UC San Diego is considered a superior team to UC Riverside. UC San Diego ranks 19th in the nation for turnover percentage (14.4%) and fourth for defensive turnover percentage (24.4%). Conversely, UC Riverside struggles with a low 2-point shooting percentage of 46.3% (321st) and lacks depth beyond Haggins. Therefore, it is advisable to support the Tritons to cover in this matchup, especially considering their impressive 10-2 ATS record in their last 12 games.

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