<p>Looking to win big? The Roadrunners and Gauchos face off at 10:00 ET on ESPN+. The Gauchos are hosting the game at The Thunderdome in Santa Barbara, CA. This Big West conference matchup has an over/under of 135.5 points, and UC Santa Barbara is favored to win by -7.5 at home vs. Bakersfield.</p><h3>BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS VS UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: UC Santa Barbara Gauchos -7.5</p><p>This game will be played at The Thunderdome at 10:00 ET on Thursday, January 9th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 81-67 in favor of the Gauchos.</li><li>Not only will UC Santa Barbara pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -7.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 135.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the Bakersfield Defense Show Up on the Road?</h3><h3>Bakersfield Roadrunners Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>The Roadrunners improved to 6-8 on the season with an 80-65 win over Long Beach State on Saturday. Playing at home, Bakersfield entered the game as -5.5 favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 145, surpassing the over/under line of 134.5.</p> 

<p>Bakersfield led 39-30 at halftime and continued their strong play in the second half, scoring 41 points while allowing 35. The Roadrunners’ ability to maintain their lead and control the game was key to their victory.</p><p>Jemel Jones led the way with 25 points and 4 rebounds, shooting 54.5% from the field, though he struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 1 of 6 attempts. Devin Askew added 21 points and 4 assists, connecting on 2 of 4 three-pointers and shooting 53.8% overall. Austin Johnson was efficient, going 6 for 8 from the field for 14 points.</p> <p>As a team, the Roadrunners shot 45.8% from the field, with a 41.2% mark from three-point range (7/17) and an impressive 86.4% from the free-throw line (19/22). They grabbed 19 offensive rebounds and finished with just 9 assists in the game.</p><p>Even with Bakersfield giving up 65 points, their defense couldn't capitalize on the Roadrunners' 45% shooting from the field. Bakersfield allowed 47% shooting on two-point attempts, with the Roadrunners hitting 20 of 42 shots.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, the Roadrunners connected on 7 of 17 attempts, shooting 41%. They also went to the free-throw line 22 times, making 19 for an 86% success rate. Bakersfield gave up 19 offensive rebounds in the game.</p><h3>Can the Gauchos Grab a Win at Home?</h3><h3>UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>The Gauchos improved to 7-5 on the season with a 64-61 road win over Hawaii on Friday, January 3rd. Entering the game as +2.5 point underdogs, UCSB not only pulled off the win but also covered the spread.</p> 

<p>UCSB led 31-28 at halftime and matched Hawaii’s 33 points in the 2nd half. The game’s total points of 125 fell short of the O/U line of 133.5.</p><p>UC Santa Barbara struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 39.7% from the field and 30.8% from three-point range, finishing with 64 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 46.6%, and they managed 11 offensive rebounds and 9 assists.</p> <p>Stephan Swenson led the Gauchos with 21 points and 7 assists, shooting 43.8% overall and 25.0% from deep. Tanner Christensen added 15 points on 60.0% shooting, while Gytis Nemeiksa contributed 13 points, hitting 71.4% of his shots and going 1-for-1 from three.</p><p>Despite UC Santa Barbara's defense allowing 61 points, they held their opponent to just 3 made threes on 14 attempts, a 21% shooting performance from beyond the arc. Overall, the Gauchos gave up 23 field goals on 52 attempts, with their opponent shooting 44% from the field.</p> <p>Inside the arc, UC Santa Barbara's defense allowed 20 two-point field goals on 38 attempts, a 52% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 16 times, where they converted 12 free throws, shooting 75%.</p>

Bakersfield Roadrunners vs UC Santa Barbara Gauchos NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/9/25

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Bakersfield Roadrunners vs UC Santa Barbara Gauchos NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/9/25

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