Long Beach State vs UC San Diego 12/29/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The UC San Diego Tritons and the Long Beach State Beach meet Thursday in college basketball action from Walter Pyramid. UC San Diego is 5-7 on the year. The Tritons lost to San Diego State last week. As for Long Beach State, they’re 6-6 overall and coming off a win versus Idaho. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

UC San Diego went just 2-4 over their first six games with wins over California and George Washington. The Tritons are 3-3 since then with wins over Eastern Michigan, Bethesda and Occidental. 

Last Tuesday versus San Diego State, the Tritons were drilled 35-16 in the first half. UC San Diego outscored the Aztecs 30-27 from there but still lost 62-46. Bryce Pope led the team on 20 points and four boards. 

Over on the Long Beach State side, they beat Cal Baptist, St. Katherine and Oakland during a 3-3 stretch to open the year. The Beach are 3-3 since then with wins over Vermont, Life Pacific and Idaho. 

Matched up against Idaho last Wednesday, the Beach were up 10 points by halftime. Long Beach State had to hang on from there but still won 82-75. Joel Murray posted 21 points, and Lassina Traore doubled on 10 points and 14 boards. 

PICK: I’ll probably take a stab on Long Beach State here. You could also probably make a case for either team. The Beach are sitting on consecutive wins and they’ve been scoring well overall lately. Long Beach State has hit 74 or more points in six straight games, going 3-3 in that time. As for UC San Diego, they’ve been on a 1-3 skid and have scored 58 or fewer points in all three of those losses. If the Tritons don’t get off to a good start I don’t think they’ll keep up.