Home court couldn’t have come at a better time for the UC Irvine Anteaters.
As a host school in the NIT, the Anteaters will try to make it four straight overall at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, CA, when they take on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
No surprise then that the Anteaters are hefty 7.5-point favorites in the college basketball odds when this one tips off at 9 p.m. ET Sunday night.
Our Jacksonville State vs. UC Irvine predictions and college basketball picks have the home team advancing past Round 2, but in a matchup much closer than expected.
Who will win Jacksonville State vs UC Irvine?
UC Irvine is 11-2 at home this season, and I think they’ll be a tough out tonight.
The Anteaters are one of the few teams that can get it done on both sides of the court. They were one of only two schools to rank inside the Top 4 in both scoring offense and defense in the Big West Conference.
Ranked 67th overall at KenPom, the Anteaters rank 21st in defensive efficiency, and that should be an advantage over a Jacksonville State side that is sixth in Conference USA scoring at 74.1 points per game.
Jacksonville State vs UC Irvine prediction
My best bet: Jacksonville State +7.5 (-110 at bet365)
UC Irvine brought its offensive A-game to the NIT, opening the tournament with an 82-72 win over the Northern Colorado Bears.
The Anteaters shot 49.2% from the field, and a sparkling 10-for-24 from 3-point range, a healthy 41.7% clip.
They were led by Devin Tillis, who had 24 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while hitting three of five from downtown.
There were some causes for concern, too. The Bears pounded them on the boards, including a big 18 on the offensive end.
That could be something Jacksonville State might take advantage of, as they ranked second in rebounding in C-USA, pulling down nearly 11 offensive boards per contest.
In their opening-round win over Georgia Tech, the Gamecocks were big winners on the glass, outrebounding the Yellow Jackets by 11.
They also limited GT to 35.5% shooting from the field, though they did allow a crisp 37.1% from downtown on 13-for-35 shooting.
The only loss on UC Irvine’s resume in the last eight games was the Big West Championship, costing them a trip to the NCAA Tourney.
They’ve reeled off seven wins in the last eight games, with a margin of victory of at least nine points in all seven wins. They are 7-3-0 against the spread in their last 10, but just 7-5-0 ATS at home this season.
The Gamecocks entered this tournament just 5-5 in its final 10 games, most notably their conference tournament finals loss to Liberty.
But they’re also a crisp 11-4-0 against the spread on the road this season, and 6-3-1 ATS over their last 10.
I have UC Irvine moving on, but not without a big-time push from the Gamecocks.
Jacksonville State vs UC Irvine same-game parlay (SGP)
Jacksonville State +7.5
UC Irvine moneyline
Jacksonville State team total Over 30.5 points — 1H
We’ve already predicted an Anteaters win and a Gamecocks cover, but we’ll fill out a 3-legged SGP with Jacksonville’s halftime total — Over 30.5 points.
Over their last 11 games, the Gamecocks have scored at least 31 points in a half on seven different occasions.
The Anteaters have allowed their opponents to hit that same number in five of the last eight games, including Round 1 at the NIT.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Jacksonville State vs UC Irvine odds
Jacksonville State vs UC Irvine live odds
Jacksonville State vs UC Irvine opening odds
- Spread: Jacksonville State +6.5 | UC Irvine -6.5
- Moneyline: Jacksonville State +237 | UC Irvine -287
- Over/Under: Over 138 | Under 138
Odds courtesy of bet365
Jacksonville State vs UC Irvine betting trend to know
The Anteaters have won nine straight night games against non-conference opponents. Find more college basketball betting trends for Jacksonville State vs. UC Irvine.
How to watch Jacksonville State vs UC Irvine
| Location | Bren Events Center, Irvine, CA |
| Date | Sunday, 3-23-2025 |
| Tip-off | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Jacksonville State vs UC Irvine key injuries
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