UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS @ FRESNO ST BULLDOGS

Highlanders arrive with a comeback win

UC Riverside is 3-0 after overcoming a 16-point deficit to beat San José State 80-75; Tony Duckett scored 22 points, and the Highlanders turned 24 turnovers into 30 points.

Fresno has scoring options beyond its leading scorer

Fresno State beat Georgia State 95-92 in overtime with five players in double figures; Brian Amuneke scored 27, and Roger Fabrega Urpina had 14 points and 12 assists.

Schedule spot favors the Bulldogs

UC Riverside is traveling after Thursday’s game at San José State, while Fresno State returns home after Tuesday’s home game; the short turnaround may matter late.

Fresno State has a reported season-ending absence

RotoWire reports Fresno State guard Nathan Zulemie is out for the 2026-27 season with a torn ACL; no further matchup availability update was found.

Pick Ideas

Angles drawn from the matchup analysis above and refreshed as the news changes. They are a separate read from the LineCrush pick for this matchup, so the two can land on different sides.

Consider UC Riverside with a cushion

At +4.5 or better, UC Riverside is worth considering against the spread because ESPN’s predictor gives it a slight win-probability edge; no standard line was available.

Only consider the under at a generous number

Consider the under at 160.5 or higher: UC Riverside’s three game totals have stayed below that mark, but Fresno’s latest game went to overtime.