The Big Sky’s top team will be at home when the Weber State Wildcats (16-7) welcome the Sacramento State Hornets (10-11) to Dee Events Center. Action begins at 9:05 pm ET on Thursday, Feb. 11.
The Wildcats are hoping to rebound after their 78-71 loss to North Dakota in their last matchup. Jeremy Senglin was the game’s leading scorer with 28 points. The Hornets, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their close 79-76 loss against Montana State in their last game. Justin Strings led the team in scoring with 23 points.
This is the second game of the year between these two teams, with the Wildcats winning the first matchup 85-74. Strings finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
The Wildcats come into this game 16-7 Straight Up (SU) and 12-8-1 Against The Spread (ATS). The Wildcats have seen a decline in scoring as of late, averaging 70.0 points during the last 10 games compared to their season average of 78.6 points per game. The Wildcats are one of the best in Division I in terms of field-goal percentage, shooting an impressive .488 from the field. Turning to the defensive side, it’s been a struggle for opposing teams to score on the Wildcats. The 66.3 points that Weber State’s defense allows per game makes them the 44th-ranked defense in the country. Weber State’s three-point defense can be considered one of the best in the nation, allowing just 5.0 three-pointers per game. Teams usually don’t get many offensive rebounds against the Wildcats, who are one of the top defensive rebounding teams in the country with an average of 29.3 per game.
In the other locker room, the Hornets have records of 9-8 ATS and 10-11 SU. The Hornets average 72.5 points allowed per game, but have improved upon those numbers in the past 10 games, allowing 63.5 points per game during that span.
The Wildcats’ win over Sacramento State in their last game bumped their SU record to 8-2 over Sacramento State in their most recent meetings. With a 6-3-1 record, the Hornets have the advantage ATS. Weber State held the advantage in field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers twice in the last five matchups. On the other side of the court, Sacramento State never accomplished this feat in that span.
Predictions: SU Winner – Web, ATS Winner – Web
Notes
“Weber State is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games “.
“The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Weber State’s last 5 games “.
“Weber State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home”.
“The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Weber State’s last 5 games at home”.
“Weber State is 3-6-1 ATS in its last 10 games when playing Sacramento State”.
“Weber State is 14-2 SU in its last 16 games when playing Sacramento State”.
“The total has gone OVER in 4 of Weber State’s last 5 games when playing Sacramento State”.
“Weber State is 18-2 SU in its last 20 games when playing at home against Sacramento State”.
Weber State averages 78.6 points per game (ranked 53rd). Sacramento State, on the other hand, allows 72.5 points per game (ranked 159th).
Weber State averages 82.2 points per home game (ranked 44th). Sacramento State allows 70.6 points per away game (ranked 61st).
In its last game, Sacramento State lost by a margin of three points. Weber State is 1-4 in games decided by a margin of three points or less. Sacramento State has a 3-1 record in close games.
The Weber State Wildcats have a defensive rating of 95.7 (ranked 34th), while the Sacramento State Hornets have an offensive rating of 106.6 (ranked 157th).
Weber State has an average field goal percentage of 48.8% (ranked 17th). Sacramento State is a losing 1-3 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The Weber State Wildcats rank lower for their field goal percentage (17th) than they do for their effective field goal percentage (eighth), but the Sacramento State Hornets have a better FG% ranking (104th) than eFG% ranking (115th).
Sacramento State ranks 94th in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.19. Weber State is ranked lower at 131st with an A/TO of 1.12.
Weber State, the 60th-ranked team in rebounding, register an average of 39.0 rebounds per game. Sacramento State does worse, ranked 214th with 35.8.
The Weber State Wildcats make an average of 5.0 steals per game. The Sacramento State Hornets are 7-9 when they allow 5 or more steals.
