Long Beach State Looks to Continue Dominance against Bakersfield in Big West Matchup
On Thursday, a Big West matchup between two mid-pack teams, Long Beach State and Bakersfield, will take place at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield. This will be their first
Game outlook
On Thursday, a Big West matchup between two mid-pack teams, Long Beach State and Bakersfield, will take place at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield. This will be their first encounter this season. Long Beach State has had the upper hand in recent years, winning five out of the last six games against Bakersfield, and they have also been successful in covering the spread in the past four meetings. Despite this, Long Beach State has not performed up to their potential in Big West play this year. On the other hand, Bakersfield has gained momentum, winning three out of their last four games, including an away victory against the CSUN Matadors. However, their winning streak was halted in their last game as they were defeated 68-50 by Cal State Fullerton. The game is scheduled for 7 PM PST on Thursday, February 1. Currently, Stephen F. Austin is the favored team with a -7 point spread, and there have been no changes to the line since it opened.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Wolverines +244 | Lumberjacks -305
Spread: Wolverines +7 (-110) | Lumberjacks -7 (-110)
Total: Over/Under 140 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Stephen F. Austin will win straight-up is 75%.
Utah Valley St. Wolverines
Long Beach State, once expected to challenge UCSB for the top spot in the Big West, has been surpassed by UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC Davis. Despite this, Long Beach State still has 11 games remaining in their Big West schedule and plenty of opportunity to vie for the top spot. The team currently has a 13-8 record for the season, with notable wins against Michigan and USC. They have a 5-4 record in the Big West. Long Beach State has a strong offensive game, averaging 78.4 points per game, with four players scoring in double digits. Senior guard Marcus Tshohonis leads the team with an average of 17.5 points, followed by the Traore brothers, Aboubacar and Lassina. The team shoots 45.6% from the field and 30.5% from three-point range, although their free throw percentage is at 68%. Long Beach State outperforms their opponents in both points and rebounds, having a lead of about 2 points and grabbing 3 more rebounds on average. Currently, KenPom ranks Long Beach State at 162nd, which is 48 spots lower than their preseason rank. The team plays at a brisk pace, with 72.5 possessions per 40 minutes, which ranks them 17th in the NCAA. After the current game, Long Beach State will face the UCSD Tritons. In terms of betting, Long Beach State has a 9-10 record against the spread and has gone 2-3 in their last five games. The trend for their games is leaning towards the over, with a 12-7 split. Long Beach State has a clean injury report and six players who average over 20 minutes of playing time. Utah Valley State, on the other hand, is ranked 309th in offense, scoring an average of 68.60 points per game. Defensively, they allow an average of 69.70 points against them per game, ranking them at 127th. With a power ranking of 287, Utah Valley State currently has a 9-11 record for the season, with an 11-7 against-the-spread record. Offensively, the team has a field goal percentage of 42.42% and a free throw percentage of 70.24%. Their three-point shooting percentage is at a low 26.21%, ranking them 359th in the Defense to offense as Hart does it again! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/Mk9AxnCA6i