Portland State Vikings vs Bakersfield Roadrunners NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24
Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Vikings and Roadrunners. The game is starting at 9:30 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Roadrunners at Icardo Center in Bakersfield, CA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this game is set at 144.5 points, and Bakersfield is favored by -3.5 against Portland State in a non-conference matchup.
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS VS BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Portland State Vikings +3.5
This game will be played at Icardo Center at 9:30 ET on Saturday, December 21st.
WHY BET THE PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-73 in favor of the Vikings.
- Not only will Portland State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +3.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 144.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Do the Vikings Stand a Chance on the Road?
Portland State Vikings Recent Game/Games
Portland State improved to 4-5 on the season after an 81-75 road win over Pacific on Wednesday. The Vikings entered the game as +4.5 point underdogs and not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
Portland State led 43-29 at halftime, but Pacific made a push in the 2nd half, outscoring the Vikings 46-38. The game’s total points of 156 went over the pre-game line of 148.5.
Portland State put up 81 points in their last game, shooting 46.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50%. They hit 38.5% from beyond the arc, connecting on 5 of 13 attempts, and went 16 for 24 from the free-throw line, shooting 66.7%.
The Vikings grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and dished out 17 assists. Cole Farrell led the way with 18 points on 6 of 10 shooting, including 2 of 3 from three-point range. Four other players scored 15 points, including Jefferson Koulibaly, who hit 3 of 8 from deep.
Portland State’s defense gave up 75 points in their last game, despite holding their opponent to just 34% shooting from the field. The Vikings allowed 13 two-point field goals on 30 attempts, a 43% conversion rate.
From beyond the arc, Portland State’s defense limited their opponent to 6 threes on 25 attempts, just 24% shooting. However, they sent their opponent to the free-throw line 36 times, where they converted 31 free throws, an 86% rate. The Vikings also gave up 9 offensive rebounds.
Is a Home Win Possible for Bakersfield?
The Roadrunners improved to 4-6 on the season with an 81-64 win over Portland on Wednesday. Bakersfield entered the game as +1 underdogs but covered the spread with the win.
Bakersfield led 46-35 at halftime and continued to control the game in the 2nd half, outscoring Portland 35-29. The total points for the game were 145, surpassing the O/U line of 140.5.
Bakersfield’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 81 points with a 50.8% shooting performance from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 60.7%, thanks in large part to their 63.2% shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 19 attempts.
CJ Hardy led the way with 22 points, knocking down 4 of 6 threes, while Austin Rapp added 21 points, connecting on 6 of 10 from deep. Jemel Jones and Max Mackinnon each contributed 17 points, with Jones hitting all 3 of his three-point attempts.
Even though Bakersfield gave up 64 points, they allowed their opponent to shoot 44% from the field, with 23 made baskets on 52 attempts. Inside the arc, the Roadrunners’ defense allowed 14 of 28 shots to fall, a 50% success rate for their opponents.
From three-point range, Bakersfield’s defense saw 9 of 24 attempts go in, with their opponent shooting 37% from deep. The Roadrunners also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 13 times, where they connected on 11 free throws, an 84% clip.