Long Beach State at UCLA (UNDER 149, play to 146.5) - Game #553-554 - 7:30pm Pacific

The 49ers are not a running team.  They only averaged 62.9ppg last season with an average game total of 135.40.  This year their defense should be better with the emergence of 6-11 center Anthony Coleman and an all around better team.  Long Beach has played three very high scoring teams to start the season which I believe may have thrown linemakers off a bit.  They played at Charlotte in season opener who is annually one of the top scoring teams in the nation.  In second game they played Pepperdine who is well known for scoring offense and suspect defense.  In last game they played Sacramento State who Beach head coach Larry Reynolds said of after the game, "They force you to play uptempo."  I expect Long Beach to return to a more deliberate style tonight. 

 

UCLA is not exactly an uptempo team themselves, their games only averaged 141.10 points last year and only 133.40 in conference play.   The Bruins are without three of their top five scorers from last year and this years team is shooting just .444 from the field depsite playing very suspect (Western Illinois, Chicago State, UC Irvine) opposition.  Their three games this year have averaged just 131 total points.  Only last game vs UC Irvine made it past the 140 mark (76-65, 141 points) and the Anteaters have been more than open about their desire to run more this year. 

 

UCLA has not been impressive at all offensively and Long Beach is probably better than any team they have faced thus far.  The 49ers meanwhile struggled shooting the ball in their only road game this year, going 3-for-25 from 3-point range and 22-for-70 overall.  The 49ers are best when they can get good looks inside, but that is where UCLA's defensive strength lies with shotblocking threat forward Ryan Hollins (2.3bpg) and big body center Michael Fey.  UCLA's best scoring options are guards & wings where Long Beach can hold its own defensively.  I expect both teams to have some difficulty scoring.  Play the under.

 

UNDER 149  1 UNIT