Pacific (9-21) vs Portland (10-18)
February 22, 2025 at 07:00 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: Pacific -3 — Over/Under: 147
The Portland Pilots and the Pacific Tigers meet Saturday in college basketball action from Alex G Spanos Center. Here’s a Portland vs Pacific prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Portland vs Pacific pick. We will examine:
The Portland Pilots’ recent form and player performance
The Pacific Tigers’ recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Portland Pilots
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Pacific Tigers
Recent betting trends in games played between Portland and Pacific
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Portland vs Pacific game
Portland Pilots Betting Preview
The Pilots have had a pretty rough year so far with relatively few scattered wins. Portland hit a 5-8 run in their first 13 outings, falling to UC Santa Barbara, Oregon, South Florida, Ohio, Princeton, Kent State, Kansas City, and Cal State Bakersfield. Losses to Washington State, Oregon State, Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s, and San Francisco came next, then a 3-3 run with wins over Pacific, San Diego, and Pepperdine among losses to Washington State, Gonzaga, and Loyola Marymount. Since then it’s been a 2-2 stretch with wins over Oregon State and LMU in between losses to Santa Clara and Saint Mary’s for a 10-18 record across 28 games so far.
In their road rematch with Saint Mary’s on Wednesday, the Pilots came out of the first half with a 36-28 deficit. Portland didn’t get any closer than that on a 43-38 run and took the loss at the end 79-66. Topping the team in the losing effort was Vukasin Masic with 15 points, eight boards, and seven assists. Max Mackinnon added 13 points with eight assists, and Chris Austin put up 11 points with two rebounds and one assist in 39 minutes of work on the floor.
Pacific Tigers Betting Preview
Over on the Pacific side, they didn’t start out too badly but it’s been a struggle since early December. The Tigers went 5-4 in their first nine with losses to Hawaii, Northern Arizona, Arkansas, and Missouri. Pacific would fall to Colorado, Illinois State, UNLV, Portland State, Idaho, Saint Mary’s, San Diego, San Francisco, Pepperdine, Oregon State, Portland, LMU, and Pepperdine over the next 14 outings. Pacific hit a 3-3 run after that, beating Washington State, San Diego, and LMU among losses otherwise versus Santa Clara, Gonzaga, and Oregon State. That gave the Tigers a 9-20 run through their first 29 games this year.
Matched up against San Francisco on Thursday, the Tigers held a one-point edge by the break. Pacific was outpaced 43-29 the rest of the way, however, resulting in a 71-58 loss. Elijah Fisher led the team in the losing effort with 23 points, five rebounds, and one assist. Kris Keinys came off the bench for 12 points and nine boards in 16 minutes as well.
Why the Pacific Tigers will win
- Portland has lost 17 of its last 18 road day games against Conference opponents.
- The home team has won each of Portland’s last three games.
- Pacific has won the first half in each of its last three day games against Portland at Alex G. Spanos Center.
Why the Portland Pilots will win
- Pacific has lost each of its last 15 Saturday games against Conference opponents.
- Portland has won each of its last three games against Pacific.
Portland vs Pacific Prediction
I’ll lean toward Portland I suppose, but I’m avoiding this one. The Pilots shot well in their latest loss to Saint Mary’s, hitting 48.1 percent from the field. Otherwise, it was a pretty rough game though, as Portland was out-rebounded 41-27 and had 11 turnovers for 19 Gaels points. The Pilots are 3-2 in their last five games now, with 84 or more points in all three victories.
These teams last met up back on January 16 in an 84-81 overtime victory at home for the Pilots. In that one, Portland shot a nice 45 percent from the field and made 21 of their 25 free throws (84 percent) alongside a 40-29 rebounding edge (14-8 offensive). It was a sloppy game overall though, with the Pilots posting 14 of the game’s 27 total turnovers for 15 Tigers points. This one should be a pretty competitive affair as well, but I like Portland slightly better.