UC Irvine Anteaters vs
Long Beach St. 49ersPredictions & Preview

UC Irvine Set to Take on Long Beach State in Big West Conference Showdown

The 2024-25 college basketball season will feature a Big West Conference matchup between UC Irvine and Long Beach State on Thursday, January 30 at Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, CA. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season, with UC Irvine having won two out of three games against Long Beach State last season. The Beach did manage to defeat the Anteaters in the conference tournament semifinals with a score of 83-79. UC Irvine is currently the betting favorite with a -15.5 point spread that has not moved. For more information on this matchup and other NCAAB picks for Thursday night, continue reading.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Anteaters -1700 | 49ers +890
• Spread: Anteaters -15.5 (-110) | 49ers +15.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 138 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that UC Irvine will win straight-up is 94%.

UC Irvine vs Long Beach St. Stats

UC Irvine Anteaters

UC Irvine Anteaters are currently 8-1 in conference play and are coming off a dominant 71-55 victory over Hawaii. They held the Rainbow Warriors to just 31.1% shooting from the field and covered a 10.5-point spread. Led by sophomore guard Myles Che with 17 points and five assists, and senior forward Devin Tillis with 11 points and 13 rebounds, the Anteaters have four players averaging double figures in points per game. With a strong defense allowing just 92.8 points per possession, UC Irvine ranks 49th in the NCAA NET Rankings. Offensively, they score an average of 76.14 points per game, shooting 44.98% from the field and 79.74% from the free-throw line. Defensively, they allow opponents to shoot just 38.03% from the field and 30.71% from beyond the arc. Overall, UC Irvine has a power ranking of 28 and a record of 18-3 (15-5 ATS) this season.

Long Beach St. 49ers Analysis

The Long Beach State Beach have struggled in recent games, dropping six out of their last seven matchups. Despite a victory at UC Davis, they have suffered four straight defeats against UC San Diego, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge, and Cal Poly. Senior guard Devin Askew has been a standout player, averaging 18.2 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game. The Beach rank low in both offensive and defensive statistics, scoring 67.48 points per game and allowing 73.19 points per game. Their performance on the court has landed them at No. 315 in the NCAA NET Rankings. Their upcoming games will be crucial in turning their season around.

UC Irvine Anteaters Set to Challenge Long Beach State in Clash of Offense vs Defense

Devin Askew plays a significant role in Long Beach State's offensive strategy. However, the team will now face the challenge of competing against one of the top defensive teams in the country, the UC Irvine Anteaters, who possess the ability to effectively counter Askew's impact. Long Beach State's defensive performance has been subpar this season, ranking near the bottom in turnover and defensive rebound percentages nationally. This deficiency may lead to difficulties in containing UC Irvine's scoring opportunities, particularly in the paint. With the Anteaters' strong track record of covering the spread in recent games and Long Beach State's struggles in ATS performance, the odds are in favor of UC Irvine to win convincingly.

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