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The NCAA Tournament returns on Thursday for the Sweet 16, but there’s still plenty of men’s college basketball action on Wednesday.
Perhaps the most intriguing matchup on the docket is the NIT quarterfinal clash between UAB and UC Irvine.
Both of these teams had aspirations of being a dark horse in the NCAA Tournament, but they’ve had to settle for the next best thing, which is a potential NIT Championship.
The Anteaters are a four-point home favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook.
Read our betting preview for UAB vs. UC Irvine and check out an exclusive promo code from BetMGM sportsbook below.
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UAB vs. UC Irvine betting preview
Irvine is the lone No. 1 seed still standing in the NIT and has made it to the quarterfinals thanks to wins over Northern Colorado and Jacksonville State. The Anteaters are now 30-6 on the season and are one victory shy of tying the program record for most wins in a season.
The recipe for Irvine’s success is plain to see. The Anteaters are a fantastic defensive team. They rank 20th in KenPom’s defensive efficiency metric and have held their opponents to just 66.2 points per game, the 36th-best mark in the country.
UAB’s offense is good enough to provide a stern test for the Anteaters, but the other side of the ball could spell problems for the Blazers.
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UAB vs. UC Irvine pick
UAB’s defense has been its bugaboo all season. The Blazers rank 241st in KenPom’s defensive efficiency rankings, and they rank 301st in points per game allowed.
UC Irvine’s offense isn’t a force, but they should have no issue scoring against a team that ranks 257th in opp. field goal percentage.
Throw in home-court advantage for Irvine and you have enough to back the Anteaters as a four-point favorite.
The Pick: UC Irvine -4 (BetMGM)
Think UAB pulls this one out?
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Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
