The UC Riverside Highlanders (1-0) will travel to Albert Gersten Pavilion to meet the Loyola Marymount Lions (0-1) in their home opener. The games Over/Under (O/U) opened at 142.5 points with Loyola Marymount set as a 4-point favorite. Action gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 15, 2017.
UC Riverside Highlanders at Loyola Marymount Lions Betting Preview
The Highlanders were victorious over the California Golden Bears in their last outing, 74-66, despite being 13.5-point underdogs. With 12 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, UC Riversides Dikymbe Martin had a good game. The Highlanders had a much better effective field goal percentage (0.443 vs. 0.339) and had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (33.3 vs. 28.0). The two teams combined to put up 140 points, which was over the O/U total of 133.5.
In the Lions last game, they were defeated by the UT Arlington Mavericks, 85-80, but they did cover as 15-point underdogs. James Batemon led Loyola Marymount in scoring with 23 points on 6-for-12 shooting. UT Arlington did a great job of converting from the free throw line (19-27; 70.4 percent). Loyola Marymount, on the other hand, had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (48.6 vs. 32.3). The two teams combined to put up 165 points, which finished well over the projected point total of 150.
It could be a sloppy game for the UC Riverside offense. Since the 2016-17 season, UC Riverside ranks 268th in the nation in ball protection (turnover percentage of 19.9 percent), while the pesky defense of Loyola Marymount has forced the 30th-most turnovers in the nation (21.8 percent).
Since last season, the Highlanders are 8-21 straight up (SU) and 10-16 against the spread (ATS). Since last season, games involving UC Riverside have gone under the projected point total 57.7 percent of the time.
The Lions, meanwhile, have records of 15-16 SU and 13-14-1 ATS since last season. Vegas has been fairly accurate when setting the O/U total of Loyola Marymount games over that same period with 14 overs compared to 13 unders.
UC Riverside Highlanders vs. Loyola Marymount Lions Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Loyola Marymount, ATS Winner – UC Riverside, O/U – Under
Betting Notes (2016-Present):
- The Lions rank 30th in steals per game (7.7) while the Highlanders rank 116th (6.6).
- Loyola Marymount ranks 81st in blocks per game (4.0) while UC Riverside ranks 102nd in blocks allowed per game (3.1).
- Loyola Marymount ranks 63rd in three pointers allowed per game (19.2) while UC Riverside ranks 245th (22.7).
- The Lions rank 89th in assists per game (14.7) while the Highlanders rank 262nd (11.6).
- Loyola Marymount ranks 135th in rebounds allowed per game (34.6) while UC Riverside ranks 235th (36.8).
