The Cincinnati Bearcats and the West Virginia Mountaineers continue Big 12 Conference men’s basketball action on Wednesday, Feb. 19th, 2025, in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. central on ESPN2. Both Cincinnati (15-10, 5-9 in Big 12) and West Virginia (15-10, 6-8) are unranked.
Wednesday’s matchup is a massive game for both programs as West Virginia and Cincinnati find themselves competing for a bubble spot. For West Virginia, the team had been comfortably in the field until their recent struggles, which dropped them into the bubble. For Cincinnati, the group is in dire need of some key wins down the stretch if they intend to sneak into the field.
Here is a preview of the game.
How to Watch Cincinnati vs. West Virginia
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPN2
Site: WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, West Virginia
Cincinnati vs. West Virginia Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: West Virginia -3.5
Current Line: West Virginia -2.5
Over/Under: 128.5
Cincinnati vs. West Virginia Predictions
Despite being selected as a Preseason Top 25 team ahead of the 2024-25 season, Wes Miller and the Cincinnati Bearcats have fallen off the wagon. The team has undergone some serious changes this season, namely with one player who was expected to star in his third season at UC.
It was April 6th, 2024, when junior guard Dan Skillings Jr. announced that he would not be returning to Cincinnati after his junior season. He believed that he would declare for the NBA Draft and continue his career at the next level instead of returning to college. That dream feels like less of a reality in February as the former star continues to fall down the depth chart. In his last four games, Skillings is seeing just 17 minutes per game while averaging just 6.5 points.
Related: Dan Skillings Plans to Leave Cincinnati Following Junior Season
For West Virginia, their story starts and ends with Javon Small. The former Oklahoma State guard has been playing at an All-American level in 2024-25, with 18.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. He’s deep into the race for Big 12 Player of the Year and continues to keep the Mountaineers’ post-season hopes alive. Unfortunately, the supporting cast around him hasn’t been great, which has led to some recent bumps in the road.
When looking at statistics, the pair actually appear to be fairly similar, with both teams getting the job done on defense. West Virginia checks in with the second-best defense in the league, followed by Cincinnati at No. 3. On offense, however, both teams struggle to covert, with Cincinnati at No. 13 and West Virginia at No. 15.
West Virginia 67, Cincinnati 64
ESPN Matchup Predictor: West Virginia 58.53% Chance of Winning)
Odds Shark: Cincinnati 72, West Virginia 67
