UC Irvine (12-2) vs UC Riverside (10-5)
January 4, 2025 at 10:00 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: UC Irvine -9.5 / UC Riverside +9.5 — Over/Under: 141
The UC-Riverside Highlanders are visiting the UC-Irvine Anteaters on Saturday, January 4th at the Bren Events Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a UC-Riverside Highlanders vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Prediction. We will examine:
The UC-Irvine Anteaters’ recent form and player performance
The UC-Riverside Highlanders’ recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UC-Irvine Anteaters
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UC-Riverside Highlanders
Recent betting trends in games played between UC-Riverside Highlanders and UC-Irvine Anteaters
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the UC-Riverside Highlanders vs UC-Irvine Anteaters game
UC-Irvine Anteaters Preview
The UC-Irvine Anteaters have a 12-2 record this season and are sitting in second place in the Big West. They are coming off a 98-89 win over Cal Poly. The Anteaters are 9-4 against the spread, and 4-9 in over/under, while having a 3-0 home record.
Offensively, UC-Irvine is averaging 73 points per game, which ranks 249th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 63.1 points per game (22nd). The Anteaters shoot 45.5% from the field (166th) and 33.2% from beyond the arc (212th). The Anteaters shoot 81.6% from the free-throw line, which is the 4th-best in the nation, and are grabbing 37.9 rebounds per game (107th).
Bent Leuchten leads UC-Irvine in scoring with an average of 14.9 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds, while Devin Tillis adds 12.8 points and 7.7 rebounds.
UC-Riverside Highlanders Preview
The UC Riverside Highlanders have a 10-5 record this season and are sitting in third place in the Big West. They are coming off a 76-60 win over Long Beach State. The Highlanders are 8-4-1 against the spread, and 7-6 in over/under while having a 4-5 road record.
Offensively, UC Riverside is averaging 72.2 points per game, which ranks 263rd in the nation. Defensively, they allow 72.3 points per game (212th). The Highlanders shoot 41.7% from the field (323rd) and 32.6% from beyond the arc (241st). The Highlanders shoot 71.9% from the free throw line (163rd) and are grabbing 38.7 rebounds per game (70th).
Barrington Hargress leads UC Riverside in scoring this season, with an average of 19.6 points, adding a team-high 4.1 assists, while Kaleb Smith adds 11.7 points and 5.1 rebounds.
Why the UC Irvine Anteaters will win
- UC Irvine has won each of its last 21 night games against UC Riverside.
- UC Irvine has won the first half in each of its last six games against the Big West Conference at Bren Events Center.
Why the UC Riverside Highlanders will win
- UC Riverside has won each of its last four night games.
- UC Irvine has lost the first half in four of its last five games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
UC-Riverside Highlanders vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Prediction
UC-Irvine is 7-1 in their last 8 meetings against UC-Riverside and is 6-2 against the spread. Over is 3-1 in their last 4 meetings, and in their most recent meeting last season, UC Riverside won 88-78 at home, covering the spread, as the game went over the point total. In this UC-Riverside Highlanders vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Prediction, UC-Irvine is coming as -9.5 home favorites. UC-Irvine is better both offensively, scoring 0.8 points more than UC-Riverside, and defensively, allowing 9.2 points less. The Anteaters are winning by an average of 9.9 points this season, while the Highlanders are losing by an average of 0.1 points. The Anteaters have been perfect at home this season and boast the 22nd-best defense in the nation, and are facing a UC-Riverside that has been struggling offensively. The value here lies with the home team, so take the UC-Irvine Anteaters and lay the points at home.