Jan. 8, 2026, 4:26 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
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<\/a> NCAA basketball odds around the San Francisco vs. Loyola Marymount odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions<\/a> for the best bets.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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%.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u2013\u00a0Rankings:\u00a0USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll<\/a><\/p>\n Watch NCAA basketball on Fubo!<\/a>San Francisco at Loyola Marymount odds<\/p>\n Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook<\/a>; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub<\/a> for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 4:15 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n San Francisco 71, Loyola Marymount 67<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n PASS.<\/p>\n UNDER 139.5 (-105) is the play, but go lightly.<\/p>\n The Under cashed last time out for LMU at Gonzaga as the Lions couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com<\/a> and BetFTW<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow @danieledobish<\/a> on\u00a0Twitter\/X.\u00a0Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter\/X<\/a> and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:<\/p>\n Alabama<\/a> \/ Auburn<\/a> \/ Clemson<\/a>\u00a0\/ Colorado<\/a> \/ Duke<\/a> \/\u00a0Florida<\/a> \/ Florida State<\/a> \/\u00a0Georgia<\/a> \/ Iowa<\/a> \/ Kentucky<\/a> \/\u00a0LSU<\/a>\u00a0\/ Michigan<\/a>\u00a0\/ Michigan State<\/a> \/ Nebraska<\/a> \/ North Carolina<\/a> \/ Notre Dame<\/a>\u00a0\/ Ohio State<\/a>\u00a0\/ Oklahoma<\/a> \/ Oregon<\/a> \/ Penn State<\/a> \/ Tennessee<\/a>\u00a0\/ Texas<\/a> \/ Texas A&M<\/a> \/ UCLA<\/a> \/ USC<\/a> \/ Washington<\/a> \/\u00a0Wisconsin<\/a> \/ College Sports Wire<\/a> \/ High School<\/a> \/ Recruiting<\/a><\/p>\n