The West Virginia Mountaineers are set to face the Cincinnati Bearcats on February 19, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. Both teams are aiming to improve their standings in the Big 12 Conference.
Team Overviews:
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Cincinnati Bearcats: Currently holding a 12-8 overall record and 2-7 in conference play, the Bearcats are looking to rebound from a recent 69-66 loss to Utah. In that game, guard Jizzle James led the team with 18 points. This season, Simas Lukosius has been the team’s leading scorer, averaging 12.2 points per game, while Dillon Mitchell leads in rebounds with 6.5 per game. The Bearcats’ defense has been a strong point, allowing only 63.0 points per game, ranking 14th nationally.
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West Virginia Mountaineers: With a 13-7 overall record and 4-5 in the Big 12, the Mountaineers are aiming to break a three-game losing streak, including a recent 63-49 defeat to Houston. Javon Small stands out as the team’s top performer, averaging 19.1 points and 5.0 assists per game. Defensively, West Virginia allows 64.3 points per game, placing them 20th nationally.
Betting Insights:
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Odds: Cincinnati is favored by 5.5 points, with an over/under total of 127.5 points.
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Trends: Both teams have been involved in low-scoring games recently. The UNDER has hit in four of West Virginia’s last five games and in 17 of Cincinnati’s last 20 games.
Prediction:
Considering both teams’ defensive strengths and recent scoring challenges, this matchup is expected to be closely contested. While Cincinnati has the home-court advantage, West Virginia’s resilient defense could keep the game tight. A final score prediction might be Cincinnati edging out West Virginia 66-65, with the total points likely falling under the set over/under.
How to Watch:
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 2:00 PM ET.