Jan. 8, 2026, 4:26 p.m. ET

The San Francisco Dons (11-6, 3-1 West Coast Conference) and Loyola Marymount Lions (10-7, 1-3) meet Thursday. Tip-off at Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET (CBSSN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the San Francisco vs. Loyola Marymount odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.

San Francisco leads the all-time series against Loyola Marymount 122-49. Dons coach Chris Gerlufsen is 5-0 in his career vs. LMU, while LMU coach Stan Johnson is 3-6 vs. San Francisco.

San Francisco G Ryan Beasley leads the way for the Dons, posting 13.1 PPG, followed closely by F David Fuchs with 12.4 PPG and a team-best 7.1 RPG. G Tyrone Riley IV also averages double digits with 11.8 PPG while posting 4.6 RPG. Riley is the best 3-pointer threat, hitting 44.2%.

The Dons posted a 73-68 win over Portland last time out on Sunday, but they didn’t come close to covering as an 11.5-point home favorite as the Under (146.5) cashed. USF is 0-3 against the spread (ATS) in the past 3 games while the Under has cashed in 4 straight.

LMU G Rodney Brown leads the way with 14.6 PPG, hitting 40.8% from behind the 3-point line, while Myron Amey Jr. is hot on his heels at 14.1 PPG. G Jan Vide is a solid tertiary scoring option with 13.5 PPG.

The Lions are licking their wounds after an 82-47 pounding at No. 8 Gonzaga on Sunday, snapping a 5-game cover streak in failing well short of the 24.5-point spread. The offense had produced 73+ points in the previous 5 outings, too, cashing high in 4 of those games, but the Under (155.5) easily cashed against the Zags.

– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Watch NCAA basketball on Fubo!San Francisco at Loyola Marymount odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 4:15 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): San Francisco -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Loyola Marymount -115 (bet $115 to win $100)Against the spread: San Francisco +1.5 (-118) | Loyola Marymount -1.5 (-102)Over/Under (O/U): 139.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)San Francisco at Loyola Marymount picks and predictionsPrediction

San Francisco 71, Loyola Marymount 67

SAN FRANCISCO (+105) has been dominant in this series and is playing the better basketball of the 2 WCC institutions. It has won 6 in a row in the series while also covering 6 straight since Jan. 13, 2022.

Loyola Marymount is coming off an ugly 35-point beatdown at Gonzaga, its third loss in 4 games. San Francisco has been competitive in all of its conference games, including a nice win at Seattle at on Dec. 28. The Dons also scored a solid 14-point win on a neutral floor against the “other” Loyola, beating Loyola Chicago 85-71 on Dec. 17, just 10 days after scoring a win over Mississippi State (65-62), also on a neutral floor. San Francisco also topped Minnesota (77-65) of the Big Ten back on Nov. 22, also. LMU doesn’t have close to the same kind of resume.

San Francisco +1.5 (-118) makes no sense to play if you like the Dons on the road. You’re paying way more than the moneyline, and the only insurance this offers is if LMU scores a 1-point win. If you like the Dons, back them on the ML.

PASS.

UNDER 139.5 (-105) is the play, but go lightly.

The Under cashed last time out for LMU at Gonzaga as the Lions couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.

The Under has hit in 4 in a row for San Francisco as the Dons have averaged 69.0 PPG on offense in that span. Defensively, San Francisco held opponents to 66.0 PPG across its previous 6 outings. The Under has cashed in 2 of the past 3 games meetings in this series, too, while going 6-3 across the past 9 in the series dating back to Jan. 10, 2021.

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