Bakersfield Roadrunners vs UC Irvine Anteaters NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/5/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Roadrunners and Anteaters. The game is starting at 10:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Anteaters at Bren Events Center in Irvine, CA. Get ready to place your bets! The odds for this Big West conference game currently have UC Irvine as the -15.5 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 135 points.

BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS VS UC IRVINE ANTEATERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Bakersfield Roadrunners +15.5

This game will be played at Bren Events Center at 10:00 ET on Thursday, December 5th.

WHY BET THE BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 80-68 in favor of the Anteaters.
• Even though we have UC Irvine winning straight-up, we like Bakersfield at +15.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 135 points, and we like the over with a projected 148 points.

Does Bakersfield Have What it Takes on the Road?

Bakersfield dropped to 3-4 on the season after a 74-64 road loss to Southern Utah on Saturday. The Roadrunners entered the game as +3.5 point underdogs and didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 138, just under the 139.5 O/U line.

Bakersfield trailed 27-23 at halftime but couldn’t close the gap in the 2nd half, scoring 41 points while allowing 47.

In their last game, the Roadrunners managed 64 points, shooting 45.7% from the field. They were 0-for-2 from beyond the arc, with an effective field goal percentage matching their overall shooting percentage.

On the offensive glass, Bakersfield pulled down 13 rebounds, and they dished out just 6 assists. Jamir Simpson led the way with 21 points, while Dominique Ford and Corey Stephenson each added 20.

Despite Bakersfield’s defensive efforts, they allowed 74 points in their last game, with their opponents shooting 47% from the field. The Roadrunners struggled to contain two-point attempts, giving up a 76% shooting rate on 19/25 shots.

Bakersfield did manage to limit damage from beyond the arc, holding their opponents to just 4/23 shooting from three, a 17% success rate. However, they sent the other team to the free-throw line 28 times, where they converted 24 attempts at an 85% clip.

Can the Anteaters Offense Score Enough at Home?

UC Irvine Anteaters Recent Game/Games

UC Irvine improved to 7-0 with a 67-60 win over Towson on Saturday. The Anteaters, playing at home, were -9.5 favorites going into the game.

They led 33-30 at halftime and outscored Towson 34-30 in the second half. The game’s total points of 127 fell just under the O/U line of 128.5.

UC Irvine put up 67 points in their last game, shooting 52.2% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, hitting 6 of 12 threes. Their effective field goal percentage was 58.7%, and they were nearly perfect at the free-throw line, making 13 of 14 attempts for 92.9%.

Devin Tillis led the way with 25 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 75% overall and hitting all 3 of his three-point attempts. Mekhi Lowery added 14 points, shooting 66.7%, while Dylan Williamson and Bent Leuchten each contributed 11 points, with Leuchten also hitting his only three-point attempt.

UC Irvine’s defense gave up 60 points in their last game, despite allowing the opposing team to shoot 52% from the field, with 24 made baskets on 46 attempts.

From beyond the arc, the opposition hit 6 of 12 threes, shooting 50%. They also went 13/14 from the free-throw line, hitting 92% of their foul shots. UC Irvine allowed 6 offensive rebounds.