Idaho Vandals vs UC Riverside Highlanders Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/23

Looking to win big? The Vandals and Highlanders face off at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Highlanders are hosting the game at SRC Arena in Riverside, CA. The over/under for this game is set at 133 points, and the Highlanders are the home favorites against the Vandals in a non-conference matchup.

IDAHO VANDALS VS UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: UC Riverside Highlanders -6

This game will be played at SRC Arena at 8:00 ET on Thursday, December 21st.

WHY BET THE UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-68 in favor of the Highlanders.
• Not only will UC Riverside pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -6.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 133 points, and we like the over with a projected 143 points.

Will Idaho Shock Everyone at SRC Arena?

After 11 games, Idaho has a 6-5 overall record. When playing on the road, they are 2-3, while at home they are 1-2. As Idaho enters today’s game, their ATS record stands at 4-4. In their last ten games this season, Idaho has been solid vs. the spread, going 4-1.

Idaho comes in with an over/under record of 4-3-1 through 11 games, with their games averaging a combined 142.5 points per game so far. The Vandals have an over/under record of 1-2 in their last three games, with their games averaging 135 points per game.

In contrast to their season average of 73.1 points per game, the Idaho had a below average performance. They scored 64 points against Stanford and had a field goal percentage of 39.4%. The team’s top scorer is Quinn Denker, who enters today’s matchup with an average of 12.2, while D’Angelo Minnis also carries a PPG average of 10.8 into the game.

So far this season, the Idaho defense has been performing well, ranking 94th in the country at 67.3 points allowed per contest. On average, opposing teams are hitting 5.8 threes per game vs. UC Riverside. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 33.7%.

Is It the Highlanders Game to Lose at Home?

UC Riverside has a record of 4-7 heading into today’s game, having lost their last game to Washington State (86-49). In their last three home games, including those from last year, the Highlanders have a record of 2-1. UC Riverside has a subpar ATS record, currently sitting below .500 at 2-6. When playing away from home, the Highlanders are 2-4 vs. the spread, while they are 0-2 ATS in home games.

After 11 games, UC Riverside has an over/under record of 4-4-0, with their games averaging a combined 136.9 points per game so far. The Highlanders have an over/under record of 1-2 in their last three games, with their games averaging 134 points per game.

In contrast to their season average of 68 points per game, the UC Riverside had a below average performance. They scored 49 points against Washington State and had a field goal percentage of 27.5%. Leading UC Riverside in scoring vs. Washington State was Isaiah Moses with his 17 points. Wil Tattersall also added 8 points for the Highlanders.

The Highlanders’ defense is presently ranked 141st nationally, allowing an average of 70.2 points per contest. On average, opposing teams are hitting 6.8 threes per game vs. Idaho. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 39.1%.