Cal Irvine (20-3) vs UC San Diego (19-4)
Game Info: Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 10:00 pm (Bren Events Center)
The Line: Betting Odds: Cal Irvine +1.5 — Over/Under: 141.5
The UC-San Diego Tritons are visiting the UC-Irvine Anteaters on Saturday, February 8th 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-San Diego Tritons vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Prediction. We will examine:
The UC-Irvine Anteaters’ recent form and player performance
The UC-San Diego Tritons’ recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UC-Irvine Anteaters
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UC-San Diego Tritons
Recent betting trends in games played between the UC-San Diego Tritons and UC-Irvine Anteaters
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome in the UC-San Diego Tritons vs UC-Irvine Anteaters game
UC-Irvine Anteaters Preview
The UC Irvine Anteaters have a 20-3 record this season and are sitting in first place in the Big West. They are coming off a 73-66 win over UC Davis. The Anteaters are 15-7 against the spread, and 9-13 in over/under, while having an 8-0 home record.
Offensively, UC-Irvine is averaging 76.2 points per game, which ranks 131st in the nation. Defensively, they allow 65.1 points per game (33rd). The Anteaters shoot 44.9% from the field (173rd) and 35.5% from beyond the arc (90th). The Anteaters shoot 80.7% from the free-throw line, which is the third-best in the nation, and are grabbing 39.7 rebounds per game (26th).
Bent Leuchten leads UC-Irvine in scoring with an average of 15.7 points and a team-high 9.2 rebounds, while Devin Tillis adds 13.4 points and 8 rebounds per game.
UC-San Diego Tritons Preview
The UC-San Diego Tritons have a 19-4 record this season and are sitting in second place in the Big West. UC-San Diego is coming off a 91-71 win over UC Riverside. The Tritons are 16-5 against the spread, and 10-10-1 in over/under, while having a 7-2 road record.
Offensively, UC-San Diego is averaging 80.3 points per game, which ranks 51st in the nation. Defensively, they allow 62.8 points per game, which is the 12th-best nationally. The Tritons shoot 46.1% from the field (107th) and 35% from beyond the arc (122nd). The Tritons shoot 76% from the free-throw line (47th) and are grabbing 34.5 rebounds per game (245th).
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones leads UC-San Diego in scoring this season, with 19.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, while Tyler McGhie adds 17.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
Why the UC Irvine Anteaters will win
- UC Irvine has won each of its last 22 games at Bren Events Center.
- UC Irvine has won the first half in nine of its last 10 night games against the Big West Conference at Bren Events Center.
Why the UC San Diego Tritons will win
- UC San Diego has won 12 of its last 13 night games.
- UC San Diego has won the first half in 13 of its last 15 road night games against the Big West Conference.
UC-San Diego Tritons vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Prediction
UC-Irvine is 8-2 in their last 10 meetings against UC-San Diego and is 7-3 against the spread. Over is 3-1 in their last 4 meetings, and in their most recent meeting earlier this season, UC-Irvine won 60-52 on the road, covering the spread, as the game went under the point total.
In this UC-San Diego Tritons vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Prediction, UC-San Diego is coming as -1.5 road favorites. Both teams have been excellent this season, as they are sitting in the top two places of the Big West. Both are in excellent form, as they are 9-1 and 8-2 in their last 10 games, but the Anteaters are 1-3 against the spread in their last 4 games, while the Tritons are 6-1 against the spread in their last 7 road games, so I expect them to keep this one extremely close. Take the UC-San Diego Tritons and lay the plus points on the road.