Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Anteaters versus the Roadrunners? Tip off is at at 10:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Icardo Center in Bakersfield, CA. The Anteaters are the favored team in this Big West conference contest against the Roadrunners. The game’s over/under currently sits at 137 points.
UC IRVINE ANTEATERS VS BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Bakersfield Roadrunners +10
This game will be played at Icardo Center at 10:00 ET on Saturday, December 30th.
WHY BET THE BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 72-71 in favor of the Roadrunners.
- Not only will Bakersfield pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +10.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 137 points, and we like the over with a projected 143 points.
Is a Road Win Possible for UC Irvine?
Today, UC Irvine will face Bakersfield for their 14th game of the season. Up to this point, they have a record of 8-5. When playing on the road, the Anteaters have a record of 1-5, while they are undefeated at home with a 6-0 record. Against the spread, UC Irvine has a record of 8-4 this season. However, in their last five games, they are 2-3 vs. the spread.
So far, UC Irvine’s games have averaged 145.7 points per game with the average over/under line being 143.2 points. The Anteaters’ last five games have culminated with an average of 150 points per game and an over/under record of 3-2.
In their latest game, UC Irvine offense put up 73 points against UC Riverside. They recorded an overall field goal percentage of 43.9% and made 4 threes. In terms of three-point shooting, the Anteaters offense has been good from outside, hitting 36% of their three-pointers on an average of 17.6 attempts per game. Their overall field goal percentage is currently 48%.
So far, the Anteaters’ defense is ranked 95th in the country at 68.2 points per contest. In today’s game vs. Bakersfield, the UC Irvine defense will be looking to do a better job avoiding putting opponents on the line. In their last game, UC Irvine made 19 free-throws vs. the Anteaters.
Will the Bakersfield Defense Show Up at Home?
Bakersfield, who is 5-7 on the season, is set to take on UC Irvine. In games away from home, the Roadrunners have a 1-7 record, while they are undefeated at home, with a 2-0 mark. Before today’s game, Bakersfield holds a 4-6 ATS record. In their last ten games of the season, Bakersfield has gone 2-2 against the spread.
Bakersfield comes in with an over/under record of 8-2-0 through 12 games, with their games averaging a combined 140.8 points per game so far. Over the course of the last five games, the Roadrunners’ games have averaged 148 points per game, along with an over/under record of 3-1.
Compared to their season average of 70.8 points per game, Bakersfield struggled in their previous game. Against California-San Diego, the Roadrunners scored 64 points while finishing with a field goal percentage of 47.2%. The team’s top scorer is Kaleb Higgins, who enters today’s matchup with an average of 17.1, while Ugnius Jarusevicius also carries a PPG average of 8.4 into the game.
At this time, the Roadrunners’ defense is positioned 128th in the country, permitting 70.3 points per game. The Bakersfield defense is coming off a game in which they gave up a total of 76 points and allowed California-San Diego to connect on 6 threes.
