The No. 13 UC Irvine Anteaters (30-5), 4.5-point underdogs, take on the No. 4 Kansas State Wildcats (25-8) in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament at SAP Center at San Jose. The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 119 points and action starts at 2 p.m. ET on Friday, March 22, 2019.
UC Irvine Anteaters vs. Kansas State Wildcats ATS Odds
In the Big West Conference Tourney, the Anteaters dismantled the Cal State Fullerton Titans, 92-64, comfortably covering as 9-point favorites. The Wildcats, meanwhile, were beaten by the Iowa State Cyclones in the Big 12 Conference Tourney, 63-59, and were not able to cover as 2.5-point underdogs. The UC Irvine game went 28 points over the projected point total of 128, while the Kansas State game went 8.5 points under the projected point total of 130.5.
UC Irvine dominated nearly every facet of the game. They had a ridiculous effective field goal percentage of 0.709 (above their season average of 0.512) and a turnover percentage of 12.5 (better than their season average of 15.1). For those same stats, Cal State Fullerton put up marks of 0.461 and 15.5, respectively. Kansas State, meanwhile, had a turnover percentage of 9.5 (better than their season average of 15.4). Kansas State was lifted by Cartier Diarra, who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Max Hazzard, meanwhile had a good game for UC Irvine, contributing 23 points and five assists.
It’s tough to find a trend for games featuring the Anteaters in regards to the total, as there has been an even split between games finishing over and under. UC Irvine holds records of 30-5 straight up (SU) and 20-14 against the spread (ATS).
Of the Wildcats’ 33 games, 20 have finished under the projected point total. Moreover, Kansas State owns records of 25-8 SU and 19-14 ATS.
This contest figures to be low-scoring as a pair of the NCAA’s best defenses face off. Kansas State currently ranks seventh in defensive efficiency (92.1) and UC Irvine is 17th (94.8).
UC Irvine Anteaters vs. Kansas State Wildcats Odds Pick
Prediction: SU Winner – UC Irvine, ATS Winner – UC Irvine, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- UC Irvine ranks 11th in rebounds per game (40.3) while Kansas State ranks 249th (33.3).
- The Anteaters are third in the NCAA with 9.5 assists allowed per game while the Wildcats are 57th with 11.5 assists allowed per game.
- UC Irvine ranks 44th in blocks allowed per game (2.7) while Kansas State ranks 64th (2.8).
- The Wildcats rank 42nd in steals per game (7.6) while the Anteaters rank 189th (5.7).
- UC Irvine ranks 20th in three pointers allowed per game (18.9) while Kansas State ranks 134th (21.8).
Bettings Trends:
- In their last five games, UC Irvine and Kansas State are both 3-2 ATS.
- The Anteaters have 4 overs and 1 under over their last five games, while the Wildcats have 4 unders and 1 over
- The Anteaters’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 21.0, up from 9.6 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Wildcats have scored an average of 65.4 points per game (0.4 below their season average) and allowed an average of 57.8 points per game (1.4 below their season average).
