The West Coast Conference Tournament semifinals tip-off on Monday, with the second game featuring No. 3 seed Pepperdine Waves agianst the No. 2 seed Brigham Young Cougars.
NCAA basketball betting lines have BYU installed as an 8.5-point favorite with the Over/Under checking in at 148.5.
We bring you our best free Pepperdine vs. BYU picks and predictions for Monday, March 8, with tipoff at midnight ET from the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Pepperdine vs BYU odds
Sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonLess than an hour before this midnight ET tipoff in the West Coast Conference semifinals, TwinSpires has Brigham Young at -8, after opening -8.5 and spending some time at -7.5. The Cougars are taking 75 percent of tickets and 82 percent of cash on the point spread. The total opened at 148.5, briefly touched 149 and is now down to 148 on two-way play leaning toward the Under, which is attracting 52 percent of bets and 60 percent of cash.
Check out the full line movement for this gamePepperdine Waves vs BYU Cougars betting preview
Injuries
Pepperdine: None.
BYU: Wyatt Lowell F (Out), Gavin Baxter F (Out).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Waves are 10-3-1 ATS in their last 14 games overall. Find more NCAA betting trends for Pepperdine vs. BYU.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
These teams tangled twice earlier this season with Pepperdine losing 65-54 on the road (at +11) and winning 76-73 at home as a 6.5-point underdog.
Pepperdine faced Santa Clara in the third round of the WCC Tournament on Saturday and won 78-70, giving it back-to-back victories. The Waves began this season going 2-6 SU and 4-4 ATS against Division 1 opponents but have been much more competitive down the stretch, going 7-5 SU and 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 contests.
Pepperdine has been strong offensively all year thanks to senior guard Colbey Ross (18 points and 7.5 assists per game) and forward Kessler Edwards (16.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game). You might remember Ross from last year when he torched Saint Mary's for 43 points in a losing effort in the WCC Tournament semifinals.
The Waves rank third in the conference in scoring with 76 ppg but their defense has been their Achilles' heel, surrendering 75.5 ppg.
Brigham Young has looked very good this season, going 19-5 SU and currently riding a four-game win streak. The Cougars have been strong on both ends of the floor but due to earning byes in this tourney haven't played in nine days.
With rust possibly affecting BYU – and the high-powered Wave offense typically keeping them within striking distance – take the underdogs with the points.
PREDICTION: Pepperdine +8.5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
BYU has an efficient offense but the Cougars have arguably been even better on the defensive end of the floor, limiting foes to 67.3 ppg on 40.5 percent shooting.
A big reason for that has been the play of center Matt Haarms, a 7-foot-3 transfer from Purdue who was named WCC Defensive Player of the Year after easily leading the conference in blocks.
While the Cougars shoot a sizzling 50.4 percent from the floor at home, they have a more modest 45.6 field goal percentage in away contests, so playing on neutral territory at the Orleans Arena could affect their shooters.
The Cougars have cashed the Under in their previous five games at neutral sites, including two contests earlier this season when they shot 45 percent from the field versus St. John's and just 28 percent against USC.
With the Under also 5-1-1 in the Waves last seven games as an underdog, back it again tonight.
PREDICTION: Under 148.5 (-110)
Pepperdine vs BYU betting card
- Pepperdine +8.5 (-110)
- Under 148.5 (-110)
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