Long Beach St. 49ers vs Arizona Wildcats Betting Picks & Predictions
The 2nd seed Arizona Wildcats are set to take on the 15th seed Long Beach State on Thursday at 2:00 PM Eastern. Arizona is coming off a loss to Oregon in the Pac-12
Game outlook
The 2nd seed Arizona Wildcats are set to take on the 15th seed Long Beach State on Thursday at 2:00 PM Eastern. Arizona is coming off a loss to Oregon in the Pac-12 semifinals, while Long Beach State had a strong showing in the Big West tournament with a 10-10 record in conference play. Arizona is the betting favorite with an opening line of -19.5, which has since moved to -20.5. It will be an intriguing matchup to watch.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: 49ers +1,350 | Wildcats -3,800
Spread: 49ers +20.5 (-110) | Wildcats -20.5 (-110)
Total: Over/Under 163.5 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Arizona will win straight-up is 97%.
Long Beach St. 49ers
Long Beach State showed a strong offensive performance in their recent game, with Lassina Traore and Marcus Tsohonis leading the charge. They have a high-tempo style of play focused on fast breaks and perimeter shooting. The team excels in driving to the rim and creating second-chance points. Defensively, they rely on athleticism and aggressive perimeter defense to disrupt opponents, but struggle with defending the 3-point shot. Overall, Long Beach State has a solid offensive ranking, but their defense could use improvement.
Arizona Wildcats Analysis
Arizona's offense struggled in the second half, scoring only 11 points in the first 12 minutes. They had 14 turnovers and shot 26% from beyond the arc. Despite this, the Wildcats have a high-powered offense that averages 88 points per game, led by Caleb Love. Coach Lloyd's squad excels in executing efficient half-court sets and attacking the basket. On defense, Arizona prioritizes suffocating opponents in the paint. They are disciplined and impose athleticism, limiting high-percentage scoring opportunities. The Wildcats have a power ranking of 22 and are known for their strong offensive performance, hitting an average of 48.90% of their field goals and 37.12% of their three-pointers. Defensively, they allow an average of 42.29% field goals and 33.42% of three-pointers. Despite Long Beach State's recent success against Arizona, the Wildcats are ready to assert their offensive prowess and defensive strength in their upcoming matchup.