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NCAA BASKETBALL SATURDAY BEST BETS: SATURDAY, February 4th
We have arrived at the final month of the regular season as conference and post-season tournaments are around the corner. Our resident hoops expert Ej Garr has picked out a pair of betting options for Saturday’s action starting with the American Athletic Conference and ending with the Big West Conference.
In this article:
- Cincinnati Bearcats vs Central Florida Knights Preview
- Cincinnati Bearcats vs Central Florida Knights Best Bet
- Long Beach State 49ers vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Preview
- Long Beach State 49ers vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Best Bet
Cincinnati Bearcats vs Central Florida Knights Preview
February 4, 17:00 (UK time)
The Cincinnati Bearcats are still in the hunt to reach the second seed in the AAC, as they are only two games behind Temple with everyone chasing Houston for the top spot. With eight games remaining before the AAC Tournament begins, the Bearcats still have a meeting with Temple to come on February 22, although the Owls have already taken down the Bearcats once.
That loss to Temple could prove to be costly although Cincinnati has quite a soft schedule in front of them to finish conference play. The games with Temple and Memphis will likely present the most difficulty, but I will predict that Cincinnati goes at least 6 – 2 to finish out the regular season schedule. That could improve to 7 – 1 should they exact revenge over Temple so the season split could save their bacon if the two teams are tied to finish the campaign.
While Cincy is carrying a 6 – 4 record in conference play, the Knights are right on their tail in the standings, although their 4 – 5 record might leave them as the 6-seed when the CAA Tourney gets here.
Before all of that happens, this game is a high-noon battle in Ohio and an early start to kick off quite a day of college hoops. I call it madness because of the number of games to go over on days like Saturday when the schedule is full of contests, but I am picking this one because of the total being low. I am staring at a 138 on this total from most major books, and I don’t see how they can’t topple that number.
Over recent years, the Bearcats’ defense has been the strength of this program but this season they are only ranked 114th in the nation allowing 64.5 points per game. Now that is still a decent number but I don’t think they will need to rely on their defense to crush the Knights on Saturday.
Anyone using the word defense and Central Florida in the same sentence hasn’t watched a lick of college basketball this campaign. Even more so lately, the Knights have been getting torched night after night, and over this current 4-game losing streak they have not allowed less than 77 points. (Let’s not talk about the 107 – 104 overtime game with Memphis, although the Knights won that outing before the 4-game losing skid began.
The Bearcats just about average 77 points a game, and there is no way on God’s green earth that the Knights are preventing them from surpassing that number on Saturday. First of all, the Bearcats are only favoured by 5 points to cover the handicap, and you can bet your shirt they will dominate UCF to no end.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs Central Florida Knights Best Bet
When the Bearcats’ team total hits the board, you better take your cash and jump all over it. The Bearcats are scoring at least 80 points today, and they are going to win by 15 points en route to an 81 – 66 win. You can play the -5, the Over 138, or the Cincy team total and cash three tickets for all I care!
- Selection: Over 138
- Best odds: 1.91 (Pinnacle)
- Stakes 4/10
More Cincinnati Bearcats vs Central Florida Knights Tips
Long Beach State 49ers vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Preview
February 5th, 00:00 (UK time)
The Anteaters hit the road and visit the Walter Pyramid to take on the 49ers, and they’ll be looking for the series sweep of the 49ers after handing them a beatdown on January 7, 87 – 70. You would think I am crazy taking a road team against a Long Beach State squad that has won 5 straight games, especially as you look at the Big West Conference standings.
The Anteaters and 49ers are neck-and-neck on the BWC table, although UC-Irvine is currently hanging on to the 2-seed headed toward the conference tourney. UC-Irvine has an identical road record as the 49ers have accumulated at home, both at 8 – 4 respectively.
An 8 – 4 record on the road is quite impressive no matter the competition or conference, and I expect the Anteaters to improve to 9 – 4 to give USCB some concerns, UCSB and UC-Irvine are only separated by a single game atop the conference table, although UCSB already has a win over the Anteaters and they’ll meet again on February 15 in Santa Barbara.
In all honesty, this conference is as wide open as any in the nation, as six teams are in reach of first-place UCSB. In the last 7 games that the Anteaters have played since that win over Long Beach State in the first meeting, UC-Irvine has turned up the heat on defense and it’s why they are 5 – 2 over their last 7 games. The Anteaters are averaging 63 points allowed per game over their last 7 games, and for the season they average 66 points allowed per contest ranking them 78th in the country.
The 49ers are allowing over 73 points a game while the Anteaters drop 76.6 points a night and the Anteaters are one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the Nation ranked 20th overall. A massive concern for me is the rebounding prowess of the Traore brothers for the 49ers. Lassina Traore is averaging a double-double for the campaign with 11.9 PPG and 10.7 rebounds a game, and the two of them are why you see a big, fat #2 on the offensive glass.
That won’t matter as long as the Anteaters drop their outside shots, as Dawson Baker and DJ Davis lead the squad averaging about 14 points a game. I see this game as one team having success inside and the other having success outside, but the end game will be decided by whichever team stays consistent. Bent Leuchten and Devin Tillis each bring in 6 rebounds a night for the Anteaters so they will challenge the 49er big men inside on the glass.
Long Beach State 49ers vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Best Bet
This game is going to overtime, I can just feel it. Neither team wants to lose this game with so much on the line in the table, but when the final horn sounds the Anteaters will come out as victors. Ballsy call as it might be, my gut tells me it will be 74 – 71 with Irvine eeking out another win to take the season series against Long Beach State.
- Selection: UC-Irvine Moneyline
- Best odds: 1.87 (BetFair)
- Stakes 4/19
More Long Beach State 49ers vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Tips
Odds as of 9:00 am February 4th. Odds may now differ.
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