The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (15-4, 7-2 Big West) and the UC Irvine Anteaters (14-7, 7-2) meet Thursday. Tip-off from the Bren Events Center in Irvine, California, is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET (ESPNU). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the Hawaii vs. UC Irvine odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.
Hawaii and UC Irvine meet for the top spot in the Big West Conference. The Rainbow Warriors won the first meeting Jan. 11 in the islands, 67-66, but the Anteaters covered as 4.5-point underdogs as the Under (139.5) cashed. Hawaii G Aaron Hunkin-Claytor scored 12 points with 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals, while UCI G Derin Saran had 22 points on 10-of-21 shooting.
Hawaii has won 4 of the past 5 games, while going 3-1 against the spread (ATS) in the past 4 outings. The Under has hit in 4 of the past 5 games, while the Rainbow Warriors have hit low on the total at a 12-3 clip in the past 15 outings.
UC Irvine posted a 61-59 win at UC San Diego as a 2.5-point underdog as the Under (145.5) cashed on Saturday. The Anteaters have posted a 5-1 ATS mark in the past 6 games, while the Under is also 5-1 in the same span.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Watch NCAA basketball on Fubo!
Hawaii at UC Irvine odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:49 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Hawaii +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | UC Irvine -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Hawaii +2.5 (-118) | UC Irvine -2.5 (-102)
- Over/Under (O/U): 140.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Hawaii at UC Irvine picks and predictions
Prediction
UC Irvine 70, Hawaii 67
UC Irvine is only favored by 2.5 points, and the spread is priced much better than the moneyline (-135).
PASS, and look to the spread instead.
UC IRVINE -2.5 (-102) is worth a look at home. The Anteaters have covered 5 in a row in this series, while going 7-1 ATS in the past 8 meetings since Feb. 19, 2022.
Hawaii has lost 6 straight trips to the mainland against UCI, last winning in Irvine on Feb. 15, 2018. Back the Anteaters until the Rainbow Warriors prove they can win on the road in this series.
UNDER 140.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
It’s all about the Under, which is 5-1 in the past 6 games for UC Irvine. The Anteaters have cashed low in 3 of the past 4 home games, too.
Hawaii has posted the Under in 4 of the past 5 games, while going low in 9 of the past 11 outings, and 12 of the past 15 contests.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow @danieledobish on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
