It will be a battle between West Coast opponents when the Pepperdine Waves (8-6) welcome the Pacific Tigers (3-10) to Firestone Fieldhouse. Action gets underway at 10:00 pm ET on Thursday, Jan. 7.
The Waves enter this game hoping for similar success after just getting past Loyola Marymount 68-65 in their last matchup. Jett Raines had 17 points, five rebounds, and two steals for Pepperdine. The Tigers, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their 81-67 loss to BYU in their last outing. Jacob Lampkin had a team-high 14 points.
Pepperdine is a substantial 11-point favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 142 points. The Waves look to build on their records of 8-6 Straight Up (SU) and 4-9 Against The Spread (ATS). Over their last 10 games, they have only managed a record of 3-7 ATS. Pepperdine’s three-point defense can be considered one of the best in the nation, allowing just 5.0 three-pointers per game. Pacific has a habit of getting in foul trouble (23.8 fouls per game), so expect the Waves to get a number of opportunities from the free throw line.
In the other locker room, the Tigers head into the game with records of 4-8 ATS and 3-10 SU. Pacific has not performed well ATS during its last 10 games, earning a 2-7 record.
These conference rivals will be facing off in their first head-to-head clash of the season. When they last met the Waves were winners, bringing their SU record to 5-4 over Pacific in the most recent games. The Waves also lead the matchup ATS with a record of 7-2. Pacific had the advantage in three key areas (field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers) once over the last five matchups. Pepperdine has never had the edge in all three categories.
Predictions: SU Winner – Pepper, ATS Winner – Pepper, O/U – Over
Notes
Pepperdine is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Pepperdine’s last 12 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pepperdine’s last 6 games.
Pepperdine is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games.
Pepperdine is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home.
Pepperdine is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home.
Pepperdine is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Pacific.
The Pacific Tigers hold a split 2-2 SU record against West Coast Conference teams, but the Pepperdine Waves have a losing 1-2 SU record in such matchups.
The Pacific Tigers average 69.4 possessions per game and 1.033 points per possession. The Pepperdine Waves earn fewer possessions with 69.3, but they score more points with 1.034.
The Pepperdine Waves average an effective field goal percentage of 48.9% this season. The Pacific Tigers have a subpar record of 1-8 when opponents have an eFG% of 48.9% or greater.
On average, the Pepperdine Waves attempt 15.0 three point field goals per game and the Pacific Tigers attempt 21.0. In games where they attempt at least 20 three pointers, Pepperdine has a winning record of 2-1, while Pacific has an abysmal record of 1-7.
Pepperdine has forced an average turnover percentage of 19.2% this season. Pacific has a losing 1-4 record when its TO% is 19.2% or higher.
