The Jacksonville State Gamecocks and the UC-Irvine Anteaters meet Sunday in college basketball action from the Bren Events Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Cal Irvine vs Jacksonville State Prediction.
Jacksonville State Recap
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks come into this game looking to build on their 81-64 win over Georgia Tech in their opening NIT matchup last time out.
Gamecocks Looking To Make Quarterfinals In First NIT Appearance
Jaron Pierre Jr. leads Jacksonville State in scoring and assists with 21.8 PPG and 3.7 APG along with 5.3 RPG as the lone active double-digit scorer for Jacksonville State up to this point in the year. Jao Ituka has 9.4 PPG while Michael Houge has 8.9 PPG with 7.6 RPG and Mason Nicholson has 7.7 PPG with a team-high 7.7 RPG to lead Jacksonville State in rebounding this season. Koree Cotton added 7.5 PPG with 2.5 RPG and 3 APG and Marcellus Brigham Jr. has 6.5 PPG and 4.4 RPG. As a team, Jacksonville State is averaging 74.5 PPG on 44.6% shooting from the field, 34.9% from behind the three-point line and 77.2% from the foul line this season.
Why the Jacksonville State Gamecocks will win
- Jacksonville State has won three of its last four games.
UC-Irvine Recap
The UC-Irvine Anteaters will be out to add on to their 82-72 win over Northern Colorado in their last NIT matchup last time out.
Anteaters Make It Out Of First Round Of NIT For First Time Since 1986
Bent Leuchten leads the Anteaters in scoring and rebounding with 15.6 PPG along with 9.1 RPG while Justin Hohn has 11.7 PPG with 3 RPG and a team-high 3.8 APG and 1.4 SPG. Devin Tillis has 13.2 PPG with 7.6 RPG and Myles Che has 12.5 PPG and 2.8 APG along with 2.6 RPG to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for UC-Irvine so far this season. Jurian Dixon has 8.9 PPG as well on the year for UC-Irvine. As a team, UC-Irvine is averaging 76.3 PPG on 45.8% shooting from the field, 35.5% from three and 80.2% from the foul line this season.
Why the UC Irvine Anteaters will win
- UC Irvine has won each of its last nine night games against non-Conference opponents.
- Jacksonville State has lost 20 of its last 26 night games against non-Conference opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Each of UC Irvine’s last four games against non-Conference opponents at Bren Events Center have produced a total of 142+ points.
- Four of Jacksonville State’s last five games against non-Conference opponents have produced a total of 145+ points.
Cal Irvine vs Jacksonville State Prediction
I’m looking at UC-Irvine in this one. I personally think the Anteaters got kind of lucky to escape Northern Colorado in the fashion that they did. But the fact of the matter here is that the Anteaters are one of the better teams overall remaining in the NIT. They are the better team by a fair margin in this matchup. I’ll give Jacksonville State some credit for making it past the first round and taking it to a power conference high-seed in Georgia Tech, but the Yellow Jackets just looked disinterested with being in the NIT. I think Jacksonville State will have a much tougher test in Sunday’s matchup. Give me UC-Irvine laying the points in this one.