Southern Utah vs California Baptist Prediction 2/6/25 College Basketball Picks

The Southern Utah Thunderbirds and the California Baptist Lancers meet Thursday in college basketball action from Dale E and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center. Here’s a Southern Utah vs Cal Baptist prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Southern Utah vs Cal Baptist pick. We will examine: 

The Southern Utah Thunderbirds’ recent form and player performance

The California Baptist Lancers’ recent form and player performance 

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Southern Utah Thunderbirds

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the California Baptist Lancers

Recent betting trends in games played between the Southern Utah and Cal Baptist

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Southern Utah vs Cal Baptist game

Southern Utah Thunderbirds Betting Preview

The Thunderbirds kicked off the season on a nice run, however, they’ve struggled mightily since early December. Southern Utah beat Western New Mexico, FIU, Bethesda, Omaha, San Diego, Idaho, CSU Bakersfield, and Park University Gilbert in their first 10 games. Next came losses to Arizona, New Mexico State, UTRGV, Northern Arizona, Grand Canyon, and Tarleton State ahead of a win over Texas-Arlington. Since then Southern Utah has fallen to Seattle U, Grand Canyon, Cal Baptist, Texas Arlington, and Tarleton State in succession over the last five games for a 9-13 overall record through the first 22 outings of the year. 

In the Tarleton State game over the weekend, the Thunderbirds kicked off with a 37-23 deficit in the first half. Southern Utah hit a 38-35 disadvantage in the second in an eventual loss of 75-58. Leading the team in scoring during the defeat was Jamir Simpson with 24 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Hercy Miller added 11 points with two steals, one rebound, and one assist as the only other team player to finish in double-figures. 

Cal Baptist Lancers Betting Preview

Over on the Lancers’ side, they’ve barely been able to keep their heads above the .500 mark so far this year. Cal Baptist lost to UC Riverside, Northern Colorado, SMU, UCF, San Diego State, and Middle Tennessee during a 7-5 opening run. The Lancers lost three of the next four versus UC Irvine, Utah Valley, and Tarleton State (with a win over Seattle U). Since then it’s been a 3-1 run with a loss to Utah Valley amid wins over Abilene Christian (twice) and Southern Utah, giving the team an 11-10 record in 21 games this year. 

Matched up against Abilene Christian in their game last Thursday, the Lancers exited the locker room with a 43-26 halftime advantage. Cal Baptist kept it rolling from there on a 40-34 stretch and took the victory 83-60 in blowout fashion. Dominique Daniels was tops on 21 points with two boards, and AJ Braun added 13 points with three rebounds in 21 minutes of work. 

Why the California Baptist Lancers will win

• Southern Utah has lost each of its last eight road games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• California Baptist has won three of its last four games.
• California Baptist has won the first half in five of its last six night games at Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Southern Utah Thunderbirds will win

• California Baptist has lost each of its last three games at Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center following a home win.

Southern Utah vs Cal Baptist Prediction 

I’ll try Cal Baptist, but we should have a pretty good matchup either way. The Lancers took care of a middling Abilene Christian team in their last outing, hitting 51.8 percent from the field with a 34-28 rebounding edge and 23 points off 16 Wildcats turnovers. Cal Baptist was a bit careless with the ball themselves, however, notching 12 turnovers for 13 Abilene Christian points. Still, it was a nice win overall and Cal Baptist now has a combined 159 points in the last two outings. 

These teams last saw each other very recently: January 25 in a 76-60 road win for the Lancers. Cal Baptist held the Thunderbirds to just 32.7 percent shooting in that one while posting 46.7 percent for themselves. The 15-of-25 (60 percent) from the line was just about the only major blemish. I like Southern Utah to play a little better in a more competitive game during this rematch, but Cal Baptist should have the advantage in a comfortable home environment.