UC Irvine Anteaters

Anteaters games finished below the posted total in 20 of 32 tries in 2025-26, 62.5%; 32 Division I teams went under more often. Against the spread they closed with 7 covers in their last 9.

The under

UC Irvine allowed 68.44 points a game, and only 45 Division I teams allowed fewer. Its totals came in under 20 times and over 12, and in the 12 games from 1 February the split was 8 to 4. Three other teams matched that 62.5% under rate exactly.

Three narrow road wins all stayed under: 61-59 at UC San Diego at +124, 69-58 at Long Beach State, 68-67 at Cal State Northridge at +105.

Favored, at a price

UC Irvine was the favorite in 26 games, won 18 and covered 13, exactly half. One unit on each of the 25 priced favorite games lost 0.96 units in all, close to level. Big home lines went unmet: 73-60 over UC Riverside at -13.5 and 78-62 over Cal State Bakersfield at -16.5 both missed. At home the Anteaters covered 6 of 14; away, 7 of 12.

The shortest-priced defeat was the second game of the season, 69-61 at home to California Baptist at -500.

The finish

From 14 February UC Irvine won seven of nine and covered seven, including a 93-78 Big West semifinal over Cal State Northridge as a 3.5-point favorite. The Matadors faced UC Irvine three times, lost each meeting and failed to cover any of them.

Hawai’i

Hawai’i won two of three, the last 71-64 in the Big West final on 14 March with UC Irvine favored at -120. Over the full season the Anteaters went 23-11, covered 17 of 32, and one unit on all 31 priced games finished 0.72 down. In the NIT they lost 75-72 at home to UNLV.

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