Alabama-Birmingham vs Rice Picks and Prediction – 2/20/2025

On Wednesday, the UAB Blazers (15-9) face off against the Rice Owls (12-14) at Tudor FieldHouse in Houston, Texas. Get ready for the college basketball season with our college basketball picks.

Rice comes into this matchup on a two-game losing streak and has dropped four of their last five games. In a recent matchup against North Texas, the Rice Owls fell short with a final score of 67-61, despite Jacob Dar contributing 15 points in the effort. Throughout this season, Trae Broadnax has emerged as the team's leading scorer, maintaining an average of 12.9 points per game. Close on his heels is Caden Powell, who has been the second-highest scorer for Rice, averaging 9.9 points per game. Powell also excels in rebounding, leading the team with an average of 7.1 rebounds per game this season. Meanwhile, Trae Broadnax has shown his playmaking abilities by leading the Owls in assists, boasting an average of 4.4 per game. In their recent five-game stretch, Rice has struggled defensively, conceding an average of 72 points per game. The Owls are eager to end their current two-game losing streak and are aiming to avoid suffering their eleventh conference defeat this year. On the offensive side, Rice has been averaging 70.8 points per game overall this season.

UAB enters this game on a one-game losing streak, but has won three of their last five games prior to their game against South Florida. In a competitive match that ended with the Blazers falling 82-75 to East Carolina, Yaxel Lendeborg emerged as a standout performer by racking up 22 points. Lendeborg has been a key player for UAB this season, leading the team in scoring with an impressive average of 17.8 points per game. Following him in scoring is Christian Coleman, who has maintained a solid average of 11.5 points per game this year. In addition to being the top scorer, Yaxel Lendeborg has also been pivotal on the boards, averaging 10.5 rebounds per game, making him the Blazers' leader in this category as well. His all-around ability shines through as he also tops the team in assists, contributing an average of 4.3 per game. In their most recent five games, UAB has been able to put up an average of 78 points per contest. As they gear up to face the Rice Owls in Houston, the Blazers are eager to secure another win to improve their position within the AAC conference standings. Overall, UAB has demonstrated considerable offensive prowess, averaging 83.4 points per game throughout the season.

Rice is aiming to revitalize their offensive strategy following difficulties in their recent games. Currently, they find themselves two games below the .500 mark, and they are eager to overcome this slump. They are set to host the UAB Blazers. While UAB has faced challenges on the road, losing four out of their last seven away games, their offensive performance throughout the season has been strong. Give me the road team to get the victory in a close game. Final Score Prediction, UAB Blazers win but fail to cover, 77-76.