Pepperdine Waves vs Portland Pilots Matchup

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

Portland vs Pepperdine Prediction

The Pilots and Waves are set to face off at 10:00 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 150.5 points, and Pepperdine is favored by -8.5 to win at home against Portland.

Portland vs. Pepperdine Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Portland Pilots at Pepperdine Waves
Where: Malibu at Firestone Fieldhouse
Date: Saturday, February 1st
Betting Odds PEPP -8.5, PORT +285 | PEPP -365 O/U 150.5

Pilots Preview: Can the Pilots Offense Score Enough on the Road?

Portland Pilots Recent Game/Games

The Pilots dropped to 5-16 on the season after an 88-63 road loss to Loyola Marymount on Thursday. Portland entered the game as +11.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread.

Portland trailed 46-24 at halftime, and while they scored 39 points in the 2nd half, they allowed 42 points. The total points for the game went over the 145.5 O/U line.

Pilots Offense Breakdown

Portland struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 35% from the field and 21.7% from three-point range, hitting 5 of 23 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 40%, but they did manage to connect on 80% of their free throws, going 16 for 20.

Alex Merkviladze led the Pilots with 16 points, shooting 50% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc. Austin Rapp was efficient, hitting 4 of 6 threes and finishing with 14 points in just 16 minutes. Jevon Porter contributed a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Pilots Team Defense

Even with Portland’s defense giving up 88 points, they couldn’t slow down the opposing offense, which shot 50% from the field. The Pilots allowed 19 of 35 shots from two-point range, a 54% conversion rate.

From beyond the arc, Portland’s defense gave up 11 threes on 25 attempts, with the opposition shooting 44%. They also sent the other team to the line 21 times, where they hit 17 free throws, an 81% success rate.

Waves Preview: Will Pepperdine Find a Way to Win at Home?

Pepperdine Waves Recent Game/Games

Pepperdine improved to 9-13 on the season with a 98-90 win over San Diego on Thursday. The Waves were -3.5 point favorites and covered the spread, while the game’s total points of 188 went well over the pre-game line of 147.5.

Pepperdine took control early, leading 55-40 at halftime, but allowed San Diego to score 50 points in the second half, while they put up 43 points of their own.

Waves Offense Breakdown

Pepperdine's offense was firing on all cylinders, putting up 98 points with a field goal percentage of 49.2% and an effective field goal percentage of 57.6%. They connected on 43.5% of their threes, hitting 10 of 23 attempts, and were solid from the free-throw line, making 30 of 39 for 76.9%.

Zion Bethea was a standout, scoring 26 points in 24 minutes, shooting 72.7% from the field and 66.7% from three. Joey Chammaa and Moe Odum each dished out 9 assists, with Chammaa adding 24 points and Odum contributing 18.

Waves Team Defense

Despite Pepperdine's defensive efforts, they allowed 90 points in their latest game, with their opponents shooting 45% from the field. The Waves struggled to contain two-point shots, where the other team connected on 60% of their attempts, going 18/30.

From beyond the arc, Pepperdine's defense gave up 10 threes on 31 attempts, a 32% shooting rate. They also sent the opposing team to the free-throw line 28 times, where they hit 24 free throws, an 85% success rate. Pepperdine limited offensive rebounds, giving up just 3.

Pilots vs Waves Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Through their last three road games, Portland has an ATS record of just 1-2. However, their overall record was 0-3 while averaging 68 points per game.
When looking at their past five home matchups, Pepperdine has an ATS record of 3-2 while averaging 73 per game. The team went 2-3 overall in these games.
Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, Portland has an ATS mark of 0-3 while going 0-3 straight up.
The Waves have played well in their last three games as the betting favorite, going 3-0 straight up and 3-0 against the spread.