Betsided

Wichita State vs. Cincinnati Prediction and Odds (Bet Bearcats, Under at Home)

By Reed Wallach

Cincinnati Bearcats forward Ody Oguama (33) talks with head coach Wes Miller going into a timeout
Cincinnati Bearcats forward Ody Oguama (33) talks with head coach Wes Miller going into a timeout / Sam Greene/Cincinnati Enquirer / USA
facebooktwitterreddit

A pair of contending AAC teams look to get a leg up on one another when Wichita State travels to face Cincinnati on Thursday night.

The Bearcats won on the road earlier this season against the Shockers in a defensive slugfest, 61-57, and I expect we see both defensive minded teams limit the other once again in this one.

Let's break down the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook:

Wichita State vs. Cincinnati Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

  • Wichita State: +2 (-110)
  • Cincinnati: -2 (-110)

Moneyline:

  • Wichita State: +110
  • Cincinnati: -130

Total: 136 (Over -110/Under -110)

Wichita State vs. Cincinnati Prediction and Pick

I find the total quite interesting and may play the under. If I do you can find that in my best bets article later today, but here's the case.

The total closed 134.5 in the team's first meeting that finished with a 61-57 Bearcats win. The two teams are strong on defense and do a great job of defending the rim, each inside the top 50 in near proximity field goal percentage allowed, per Haslemetrics.

Neither offense is that strong with each in the bottom 100 in effective field goal percentage and the Shockers are prone to just hoisting from deep and banking on the likes of Tyson Etienne and Ricky Council to bail them out. However, Wichita State is shooting just 33% from beyond the arc in AAC play, it's simply inefficient offense.

There's going to be a methodical pace to this one, but the concern of free throws at the end has me a bit concerned. Cincinnati struggles in that department, shooting 67% as a team while Wichita State boasts the best free throw percentage in AAC play. If this game is tight late, there can be a ton of fouls to send this game over.

With that in mind, my best look is towards the under considering the recent history between the two teams and their defensive minded basketball. This game may be ugly and a race to 60.

LEAN: Under 136

All of Reed's college basketball plays can be tracked here, his best bets column for college basketball is 65-58-3 for +4.2 units.

Home/College Basketball Predictions and Picks