Pepperdine vs Alabama State 12/11/21 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Alabama State Hornets and Pepperdine Waves face off on Saturday in a college basketball showdown at Firestone Fieldhouse. 

Alabama State comes into this game with a 2-8 record overall but they have gone 6-3 against the spread. In the last game against Samford, the offense could only manage 64 points and that led to another defeat. Alabama State is averaging 70.6 points while their defense is giving up 81.1 points per game. Forward Gerald Lidell has been the top player for Alabama State averaging 10.1 points while shooting 42 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the three-point line. There are five different players who are averaging at least eight points per game. In this game, if Alabama State wants to win this game the defense is going to need to be good. 

On the other side of this matchup is the Pepperdine Waves who sit with a 3-8 record overall and they have gone 5-6 against the spread. In the last game they faced off against San Jose State and the offense was elite putting up 82 points and that led to the 13 point victory. Pepperdine overall hasn’t been an elite offensive team, so that had to feel good that the offense was good. Pepperdine is averaging 66.1 points while their defense is giving up 73.9 points per game. Forward Jan Zidek has been the top player for Pepperdine averaging 11.9 points while shooting 38.6 percent from the field and 29.8 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Pepperdine is 7-1 against the spread in their last eight home games. Alabama State is 5-1 against the spread in their last six road games.The over is 4-1 in the Waves last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. The under is 4-1 in Waves last 5 games following an against the spread win. 

Alabama State’s defense is a problem, and Pepperdine has shown they can have a strong offense. In this game, Pepperdine is going to run up the score and Alabama State is going to have no answer. Back Pepperdine to cover the spread.