The Loyola Marymount Lions will try to pay off for their supporters on Thursday when they play host to the Pepperdine Waves at Gersten Pavilion in NCAA basketball action.

Supporters of the Waves have watched them go 9-9 and 8-5-1 ATS on the year, while the Lions are at 8-11 and 5-10 ATS. In totals betting, the Lions are 6-6, while the Waves have a 6-5 mark.



View Pepperdine vs Loyola Marymount Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The Lions were listed as 5.5-point favorites at most sportsbooks tracked by Odds Shark earlier in the day. It opened first at Sportsbook, where the total was expected shortly.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Lions - Waves odds would favor the Lions if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Loyola Marymount is rated No. 173 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Pepperdine is at No. 203. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 67-66 win for the Lions.



How They Match Up:
Rebounding is always a key handicapping consideration and Waves is ranked No. 195 in NCAA hoops at 34.6 per game. Contrast that with Loyola Marymount’s No. 93 mark in the paint. When it comes to three-point shooting, Loyola Marymount is the No. 131-ranked team in the country at 6.5 per game, while Pepperdine rates No. 229 at 5.6 per game.

Defensively, Pepperdine features the nation's No. 120-rated defense on the road, allowing 67.2 points per game. Loyola Marymount, meanwhile, comes in at No. 83 nationally in scoring at home.

In their last action, Pepperdine was an 83-76 loser at home against Santa Clara. They covered the 8-point spread as underdogs. Pepperdine got 23 points from Lorne Jackson but lost anyway, 83-76, to Santa Clara on Saturday at Firestone Fieldhouse.

Last time out for Loyola Marymount, they were a 62-53 loser as they battled San Francisco on the road. They failed to cover in the match as a 7-point underdog. Loyola Marymount got 13 points from Anthony Ireland but lost anyway, 62-53, to San Francisco on Saturday at War Memorial Gymnasium.


Pepperdine Waves Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing St. Mary's are 4-6
After playing Santa Clara are 6-4
After a loss are 6-4

Loyola Marymount Lions Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Gonzaga are 3-7
After playing San Francisco are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5

A few Waves at Lions trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pepperdine's last 7 games when playing on the road against Loyola Marymount
Pepperdine is 5-15 SU in its last 20 games on the road
Pepperdine is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Loyola Marymount
Loyola Marymount is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Pepperdine
Loyola Marymount is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Pepperdine
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Loyola Marymount's last 5 games when playing Pepperdine
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Loyola Marymount's last 7 games when playing at home against Pepperdine


Next up:
Pepperdine at St. Mary's, Saturday, January 26
Loyola Marymount home to Gonzaga, Thursday, January 31