UC Irvine vs. CSU Bakersfield Big West Tournament Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 9, 2023

The No. 1 seed UC Irvine Anteaters (22-10, 15-5 Big West) are favored by 12 points when they square off the No. 8 seed CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners (11-21, 6-14 Big West) in the Big West Tournament. The teams will look to take another step toward an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament bracket on Thursday at Dollar Loan Center starting at 3:00 PM and airing on ESPN+. The point total for the matchup is 127.5.

UC Irvine vs. CSU Bakersfield Odds

• UC Irvine odds to win: -845
• CSU Bakersfield odds to win: +571
• Spread: UC Irvine (-12)
• Total: 127.5

UC Irvine vs. CSU Bakersfield Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023
• Time: 3:00 PM ET
• TV: ESPN+
• Where: Henderson, Nevada
• Venue: Dollar Loan Center

Who Will Win UC Irvine vs. CSU Bakersfield?

UC Irvine and CSU Bakersfield Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

UC Irvine is 1-3 against the spread when favored by 12 points or more this season.

CSU Bakersfield has a 2-2 record against the spread when an underdog by 12 points or more this year.

The Anteaters and the Roadrunners combine to average 8.4 more points per game than the over/under of 127.5 set for this game.

Opponents of these teams have averaged a combined 131 points per game, 3.5 more than the over/under in this matchup.

The average point total for UC Irvine’s games this season is 14.3 more points than the over/under of 127.5 in this matchup.

Roadrunners games this year have averaged an over/under of 125.1 points, 2.4 fewer than the point total in this matchup.

The Anteaters are 15-15-0 against the spread this season.

The Roadrunners are 14-16-0 against the spread this year.

UC Irvine Stats & Insights

UC Irvine’s +270 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 8.4 points per game) is a result of scoring 75.1 points per game (102nd in college basketball) while allowing 66.7 per outing (78th in college basketball).

UC Irvine comes out on top in the rebound battle by an average of 3.4 boards. It is grabbing 33.8 rebounds per game (60th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 30.4 per contest.

The Anteaters knock down 7 three-pointers per game (222nd in college basketball) compared to their opponents’ 6.5. They shoot 37.5% from deep while their opponents hit 31.5% from long range.

UC Irvine averages 96.8 points per 100 possessions on offense (102nd in college basketball), and gives up 85.9 points per 100 possessions (50th in college basketball).

The Anteaters score 76.8 points per game in home games, compared to 72.3 points per game in road games, a difference of 4.5 points per contest.

CSU Bakersfield Stats & Insights

CSU Bakersfield is being outscored by 3.5 points per game, with a -115 scoring differential overall. It puts up 60.8 points per game (360th in college basketball), and allows 64.3 per contest (34th in college basketball).

CSU Bakersfield grabs 28.7 rebounds per game (327th in college basketball), compared to the 29 of its opponents.

CSU Bakersfield makes 4.4 three-pointers per game (360th in college basketball), 2.7 fewer than its opponents.

CSU Bakersfield’s 85.4 points per 100 possessions on offense rank 341st in college basketball, and the 90.4 points it concedes per 100 possessions rank 144th in college basketball.

At home the Roadrunners are scoring 64.5 points per game, seven more than they are averaging away (57.5).

UC Irvine Key Players to Watch

Dawson Baker leads the Anteaters in scoring, tallying 15.4 points per game to go with 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

Devin Tillis is UC Irvine’s leading rebounder, pulling down six per game, while Pierre Crockrell II is its best passer, distributing five assists in each contest.

DJ Davis makes more threes per game than any other member of the Anteaters, knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a clip of 2.5 per contest.

The UC Irvine steals leader is Crockrell, who averages one steal per game, while its blocks leader is Bent Leuchten, who compiles 0.8 rejections per contest.

CSU Bakersfield Key Players to Watch

Antavion Collum scores 12.9 points per game to be the top scorer for the Roadrunners.

The CSU Bakersfield leaders in rebounding and assists are Cameron Smith with 5.5 rebounds per game (he also adds 8.6 points and 1.4 assists per game) and Ivan Reynolds with 2.5 assists per game (he also tacks on 4.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game).

Marvin McGhee is the top shooter from distance for the Roadrunners, hitting 1.7 threes per game.

CSU Bakersfield’s leader in steals is Reynolds (1.4 per game), and its leader in blocks is Travis Henson (1.1 per game).

UC Irvine vs. CSU Bakersfield Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  CSU Bakersfield (+12)
  

• Pick OU:

  Over (127.5)
  

• Prediction:
  UC Irvine 72, CSU Bakersfield 61

How to Bet on UC Irvine vs. CSU Bakersfield

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