UC Riverside vs Long Beach State Prediction College Basketball Picks 1/2/25

In this article, we will formulate a UC Riverside vs Long Beach State Prediction for this college basketball game on Thursday, January 2nd, at the Walter Pyramid. To formulate this prediction, we will examine:

-The Highlanders’ recent form and recent player performance 

-The Beach’s recent form and recent player performance

-Recent Betting trends and streaks involving UC Riverside

-Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Long Beach State

-Recent betting trends in games played between UC Riverside and Long Beach State

-A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Today’s Game between the Highlanders and Beach. 

Long Beach State Has Been Playing Well

Long Beach State got out to a slow start to the season, but they are figuring it out as of late and they have won five games in a row. Two games ago against Pepperdine, Long Beach State scored 79 points and they won by three points. In the last game against La Sierra, Long Beach State scored 83 points and the defense gave up only 57 points. Kam Martin had a strong game putting up 18 points, four rebounds, and one assist. Long Beach State on the season is averaging 67.3 points while their defense is giving up 70.1 points per game. The offense is ranked 329th in the league while the defense is ranked 152nd in the league. They are averaging 53.4 shots per game which is 356th in all of college basketball. In this game, Long Beach State is going to need the offense to get out to a fast start here. 

Why Long Beach State Will Beat UC Riverside

• Long Beach State has won each of its last five games.
• UC Riverside has lost the first half in each of its last four games against Conference opponents.

UC Riverside Looks for Second Straight Win

UC Riverside faced off against the University of St Thomas in the last game and it was a close game, but they were able to secure an 81-79 victory. It took overtime, and they were able to secure the win. Barrington Hargress had a strong game putting up 24 points, four rebounds, and two assists. There were three different players that put up at least 10 points. Two games ago against UNLV,  UC Riverside scored 53 points, but the defense gave up 66 points. UC Riverside is averaging 72.2 points while their defense is giving up 72.3 points per game. The offense is ranked 264th in the league while the defense is ranked 213rd. There isn’t one thing that this team has done all that great this season, butt in this game if they want a chance to come away with a win, the offense is going to need to be good. 

UC Riverside vs Long Beach State Prediction

Give me Long Beach State here. The stats might not pop off the page, but they are still the better team, and they are going to have no issue here. UC Riverside scored only 53 points two games ago and they aren’t going to have the offense to find success. Long Beach State is averaging only 67.3 points per game, but their offense is going to go well over that number here, and that will be the difference here. UC Riverside won’t be having any answer, and Long Beach State will come out on top. Back Long Beach State against the spread here.