Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners vs UC Davis Aggies Picks and Predictions for Saturday, January 3, 2026
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Cal State Bakersfield hits the road for a Big West matchup with UC Davis on Saturday afternoon. The Roadrunners are 6-9 overall and still searching for their first conference win at 0-3, coming off an 81-77 loss to UC Irvine. UC Davis is 8-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play after an 89-80 win over CSUN. Play our free college basketball picks, and cash in your winning ticket.
Cal State Bakersfield vs UC Davis Game Information
- Date: Saturday, January 3
- Time: 5:00 PM ET
- Location: University Credit Union Center, Davis, CA
- TV: ESPN+
Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners Preview
Bakersfield’s offense has lived on individual shot-making, and the numbers show it with only 10.6 assists per game and a 42% team field-goal rate. Dailin Smith is the top scoring option (16.0 points per game), but shooting has been shaky, so the Roadrunners need more possessions and free throws to keep their scoring afloat.
Defensively, Bakersfield can be disruptive (8.1 steals, 5.8 blocks per game), and that’s the way the Roadrunners stay competitive on the road. The challenge is converting stops into transition points instead of rushed shots, because empty trips on transition will quickly become a problem against a UC Davis team that shoots 48%.
Key Stats Per Game
- Points: 72.9
- Points Allowed: 77.8
- Rebounds: 35.3
- Assists: 10.6
- Steals: 8.1
- Blocks: 5.8
UC Davis Aggies
UC Davis has the stronger overall team, scoring 79.8 points per game while shooting 48% from the field. Nils Cooper (15.1 ppg) gives them a steady interior scoring option, and the Aggies are also playing better, setting up the offense, averaging 16.0 assists per game with Brayden Fagbemi leading at 4.2 assists per game.
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The Aggies can score in multiple ways without needing to force high numbers of turnovers, and that works out well when the pace slows. If UC Davis takes care of the ball and avoids giving Bakersfield free points off turnovers, they will control the game at home.
Key Stats Per Game
- Points: 79.8
- Points Allowed: 74.8
- Rebounds: 33.0
- Assists: 16.0
- Steals: 8.3
- Blocks: 2.8
Cal State Bakersfield vs UC Davis Prediction
UC Davis passes, shoots, and scores better, which matters in a game that could feature long half-court possessions. Bakersfield’s defense can create problems, but the Roadrunners’ inconsistent scoring is a concern. UC Davis will win by repeatedly getting quality looks and forcing Bakersfield to score against a set defense. Final Score Prediction: UC Davis wins and covers ATS, 80-68.
Best Picks
- UC Davis Aggies
- Over
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