| MATCHUP |
Cal Irvine Anteaters |
CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners |
| Team Records |
9-5 |
6-8 |
| Spread |
-9.5 -118 |
+9.5 -102 |
| Moneyline |
-575 |
+425 |
| Total |
Over 143.5 (-112) |
Under 143.5 (-108) |
| Where |
Icardo Center, Bakersfield, CA |
| When |
Thursday, January 1, 2026 |
| Time |
05:00 PM EST |
| TV |
ESPN+ |
The UC Irvine Anteaters and the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners meet Thursday in college basketball action from the Icardo Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a UC Irvine Anteaters vs. Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners prediction.
UC Irvine Anteaters Recap
The UC Irvine Anteaters come into this game looking to add on to their 89-70 win over Norfolk State last time out to sit at 9-5 this season. After this game, UC Irvine will head on the road again for a matchup with Cal State Fullerton.
Anteaters Win 6 Of Last 7
Jurian Dixon leads the Anteaters in scoring with 15.3 PPG along with 3.4 RPG and 2.2 APG while Derin Saran has 12.9 PPG with 5.7 RPG and a team-high 4.4 APG to lead UC Irvine in the assist department so far this season. Kyle Evans has 11.9 PPG with a team-high 8 RPG to lead UC Irvine in rebounding and to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for UC Irvine so far this season. Harrison Carrington also has 8.1 PPG with 3.2 RPG and Tama Isaac has 6.2 PPG with 3.9 RPG and 4.2 APG as well this season. As a team, UC Irvine is averaging 78.3 PPG on 46.5% shooting from the field, 32.8% from three and 66.8% from the foul line this season.
Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners Recap
The Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners come into this game looking to build on their 64-63 win over Idaho last time out to sit at 6-8 this season. After this game, Cal State Bakersfield will square off with UC Davis on the road.
Roadrunners Win Back-To-Back Games
Dailin Smith lead the Roadrunners in scoring with 16 PPG along with 2.8 RPG while CJ Hardy has 14.6 PPG with 4.4 RPG and a team-high 2.6 APG to lead Bakersfield in assists. Ronald Jessamy has 11.8 PPG with 5.9 RPG to lead the Roadrunners in rebounding and to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Cal State Bakersfield so far this season. Pierre Geneste Jr. also has 5.9 RPG to share the team lead in rebounding as well this season. As a team, Cal State Bakersfield is averaging 72.9 PPG on 42.4% shooting from the field, 28.2% from three and 73.6% from the foul line this season.
UC Irvine Anteaters vs. Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners Prediction
I’m on UC Irvine here. I get the case to be made for Bakersfield at home on that weird but cool looking court, but the thing here is that the Anteaters are still one of the better teams in the Big West and Cal State Bakersfield over the years has had a reputation to have issues with scoring and I don’t see those issues clearing up here. Give me UC Irvine in this one.
Chris Ruffolo's Pick: UC Irvine -9.5
