| MATCHUP | Cal Irvine Anteaters | UC Davis Aggies |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 12-6 | 10-7 |
| Spread | -2.5 -115 | +2.5 -105 |
| Moneyline | -142 | +120 |
| Total | Over 146.5 (-105) | Under 146.5 (-115) |
| Where | University Credit Union Center, Davis, CA | |
| When | Saturday, January 17, 2026 | |
| Time | 05:00 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
The UC Irvine Anteaters and the UC Davis Aggies meet Saturday in college basketball action from the Pavilion. Here’s a UC Irvine vs UC Davis prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best UC Irvine vs UC Davis pick. We will examine the recent form and player performances for both teams, as well as the recent betting trends and streaks pertaining to this matchup. As we conclude, we will tie it all together with a summary that produces a sensible pick for a favorable betting outcome in this game.
UC Irvine Anteaters Betting Preview
The Anteaters posted a rocky 3-4 run in their first seven games this season. UC Irvine would then beat South Dakota State, San Jose State, UC Riverside and Cal State Northridge before a loss to Belmont. UC Irvine has since beaten North Dakota State, Norfolk State, CSU Bakersfield, CSU Fullerton and Long Beach State before a loss to Hawaii, giving the team a 12-6 run over 18 games this year.
In their latest outing last weekend in Hawaii, the Anteaters opened up the game with a 29-27 deficit in the first half. UC Irvine posted a 39-38 edge the rest of the way but it wasn’t enough in a tough road loss 67-66. Leading the team in the losing effort was Derin Saran with 22 points, three boards and two assists. Kyle Evans added 13 points with eight rebounds in 29 minutes of work.
UC Davis Aggies Betting Preview
Over on the Aggies’ side, they posted a solid 5-2 stretch in their first seven games with losses to Portland and Colorado. After losses to Hawaii, Oregon and Seattle U, UC Davis beat Idaho State, Pacific Union and CSU Northridge. A 1-2 run came next with losses to Cal State Bakersfield and Cal Poly (and a win over UC Santa Barbara), giving the Aggies a 9-7 record in 16 games.
In game 17 versus CSU Fullerton on Thursday the Aggies were in the locker room looking up at a 32-24 advantage. UC Davis scored another 42 points in the second half and ultimately powered out a home victory 74-69. Niko Rocak put up 16 points with five rebounds, and Connor Sevilla added 14 points with two rebounds. Marcus Wilson had 12 points and nine rebounds in the victory.
UC Irvine Anteaters @ UC Davis Aggies Betting Trends: January 17, 2026
Why the UC Davis Aggies will win
- UC Davis has won seven of its last nine home games.
Why the UC Irvine Anteaters will win
- UC Irvine has won each of its last six day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
- UC Davis has lost each of its last seven Saturday day games.
UC Irvine vs UC Davis Prediction
I’ll stick with UC Davis. The Aggies dispatched a middling CSU Fullerton squad in a home matchup this week thanks to 46.2 percent shooting and a 41-31 advantage on the boards. UC Davis shot just 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from outside though, and coughed up a whopping 20 turnovers along the way. The Aggies are a shaky 2-2 over their last four games, but they’re scoring well these days with 74 or more points in eight straight games.
As for UC Irvine, they’re coming off a tough road loss versus Hawaii. In that one the Anteaters shot just 38.8 percent from the field and 25 percent (2-of-8) from outside along with 15 turnovers. The good news is that UC Irvine did well at the line (12-of-15 for 80 percent) and had a 40-29 rebounding advantage. I could see the Anteaters making a run at this one if they can get that shooting percentage up. We should have a pretty entertaining matchup here if both teams play to their relative capabilities.