Bakersfield Roadrunners vs Portland Pilots NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/18/24

The Roadrunners and Pilots are set to face off at 10:00 ET on ESPN+. The Pilots will host the game at Chiles Center in Portland, OR. Bakersfield is favored by -2.5 in this non-conference contest against Portland. The game’s over/under currently sits at 140.5 points.

BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS VS PORTLAND PILOTS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Portland Pilots +2.5

This game will be played at Chiles Center at 10:00 ET on Wednesday, December 18th.

WHY BET THE PORTLAND PILOTS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Pilots.
• Not only will Portland pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +2.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 140.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.

Can Bakersfield Secure a Road Victory?

The Roadrunners dropped to 3-6 on the season after an 81-60 loss to the Tritons on Saturday. Bakersfield entered the game as +11.5 point underdogs and didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 141, which went over the pre-game line of 136.5.

Bakersfield struggled early, falling behind 51-30 at halftime. In the 2nd half, they managed to hold the Tritons to 30 points while scoring 30 themselves, but the damage had already been done in the 1st half.

The Roadrunners put up 60 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and from beyond the arc, hitting 4 of 8 threes. Their effective field goal percentage was 54.8%, and they excelled at the free-throw line, making 11 of 12 attempts (91.7%).

Nordin Kapic was a standout, scoring 25 points in just 23 minutes, shooting 8 of 11 overall and 7 of 8 from three. Hayden Gray and CJ Hardy each added 11 points, with Gray contributing 3 assists.

Bakersfield’s defense struggled, giving up 81 points on 47% shooting from the field. They allowed 26 made field goals on 55 attempts.

From beyond the arc, the Roadrunners gave up 15 threes on 35 attempts, a 42% shooting performance. They also sent their opponents to the line 19 times, where they converted 14 free throws.

Will the Pilots Win at Chiles Center?

Portland Pilots Recent Game/Games

Portland’s season struggles continued with a 69-64 loss to Kansas City on Tuesday, dropping their record to 2-7. The Pilots were -2.5 favorites at home but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 133, falling short of the 142.5 O/U line.

After trailing 44-30 at halftime, Portland made a push in the 2nd half, outscoring the Roos 34-25, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

Portland’s offense struggled from beyond the arc in their last game, hitting just 3 of 17 threes for a 17.6% shooting percentage. However, they were much more effective inside, shooting 64.5% on two-point attempts and finishing with an overall field goal percentage of 47.9%.

Jamar Brown led the team with 20 points, while Austin Rapp added 18 points and 10 rebounds, despite shooting just 2 of 9 from three. Jermaine Ballisager Webb was efficient, hitting 6 of 7 shots from the field.

Portland’s defense gave up 69 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 47% from the field on 23/48 shooting. Inside the arc, they allowed 64% shooting, with opponents hitting 20 of 31 two-point attempts.

From three-point range, Portland held their opponents to just 3 made threes on 17 attempts, a 17% shooting performance. They also sent their opponents to the free-throw line 20 times, where they made 15 shots, a 75% success rate. Portland allowed 7 offensive rebounds in the game.