Northern Arizona Lumberjacks vs Pepperdine Waves Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Northern Arizona vs Pepperdine NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Malibu.

Northern Arizona vs Pepperdine Prediction

The Lumberjacks and Waves are set to face off at 4:00 ET on ESPN+. The Waves will host the game at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, CA. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 145.5 points, and Pepperdine is favored by -3 at home against Northern Arizona.

Northern Arizona vs. Pepperdine Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at Pepperdine Waves
Where: Malibu at Firestone Fieldhouse
Date: Saturday, December 14th
Betting Odds PEPP -3, NARZ +138 | PEPP -175 O/U 145.5

Lumberjacks Preview: Will Northern Arizona Pull Through as the Underdog Road Team?

Northern Arizona improved to 4-3 on the season with a 95-82 win over South Dakota on Saturday. The Lumberjacks, who were -2 favorites, covered the spread in the victory.

NAU led 48-41 at halftime and maintained their edge in the second half, scoring 47 points while allowing 41. The game’s total points of 177 exceeded the O/U line of 157.

Lumberjacks Offense Breakdown

Northern Arizona's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 95 points while shooting 56.4% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 65.5%, thanks in part to 62.9% shooting on two-pointers and 45% from beyond the arc.

The Lumberjacks also hit 24 free throws, though they shot just 68.6% from the line. They dished out 20 assists, with Jayden Jackson leading the way with 7 dimes to go along with 20 points. Trent McLaughlin added 23 points, while Isaac Bruns contributed 22 points and 7 rebounds.

Lumberjacks Team Defense

Northern Arizona struggled defensively, giving up 82 points on 56% shooting from the field. Their two-point defense was particularly vulnerable, allowing 62% shooting (22/35).

From beyond the arc, the Lumberjacks allowed 9 threes on 45% shooting. They also sent the opposing team to the line 35 times, where they made 24 free throws (68%).

Waves Preview: Do the Waves Have What it Takes to Win as Home Favorites?

Pepperdine improved to 3-6 on the season with an 85-57 win over Grambling State on Saturday. The Waves, who were -3 point favorites, covered the spread and the game’s total points of 142 exceeded the O/U line of 139.5.

Pepperdine led 38-24 at halftime and put up 47 points in the 2nd half while allowing 33.

Waves Offense Breakdown

Pepperdine's offense put up 85 points in their latest game, shooting 49.3% from the field and 43.5% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 56.5%, and they hit 77.8% of their free throws.

Stefan Todorovic led the way with 22 points, hitting 5 of 9 threes, while Moe Odum added 16 points and 9 assists. Dovydas Butka was efficient, shooting 7 of 9 from the field and grabbing 13 rebounds.

Waves Team Defense

Pepperdine's defense gave up 57 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 49% from the field on 34 of 69 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 52% shooting, as the other team went 24 for 46 on two-point shots.

From three-point range, Pepperdine's defense saw the other team hit 10 of 23 attempts, good for 43%. They also sent the opponent to the free-throw line 9 times, where they converted 7 of those for 77%. Pepperdine gave up 11 offensive rebounds in the game.

Lumberjacks vs Waves Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their three previous road games, Northern Arizona has an ATS mark of 0-3. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-2 while averaging 72 points per game.
Across the Waves last three home games, the team averaged 57 points per game while allowing 76. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 0-3, while going 0-3 straight-up.
As the betting underdog, the Lumberjacks have an ATS mark of just 1-4 in their last five games. Northern Arizona posted a straight up mark of 1-4 in these matchups.
The Waves have played well in their last five games as the betting favorite, going 3-2 straight up and 3-2 against the spread.