Hawaii Rainbow Warriors vs UC Irvine Anteaters Picks and Predictions for Saturday March 14 2026
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The Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors face the UC Irvine Anteaters in the Big West Championship Final on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET with television coverage on ESPN2. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily betting insights and predictions.
Rainbow Warriors Lean on Rebounding Dominance
The Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors enter the Big West Championship game with a 23-8 overall record and a 14-6 conference record. Hawai'i advanced to this round after recently winning over Cal State Fullerton 78-63 in the Big West semifinal. In their last five games, the Rainbow Warriors have recently won over Cal State Fullerton, UC Riverside, Cal State Fullerton earlier in conference play, UC Davis, and UC Santa Barbara while recently losing to Long Beach State.
Hawai'i has averaged 80.0 points per game while allowing 69.9 points per game this season. The Rainbow Warriors shoot 46% from the field and average 38.7 rebounds and 13.5 assists per game. Defensively they contribute 3.8 blocks and 6.6 steals per game, showing the ability to control the glass while maintaining consistent defensive pressure.
In their semifinal victory over Cal State Fullerton, Isaac Johnson led Hawai'i with 19 points while providing steady offensive production throughout the game. On the boards, Harry Rouhliadeff led the Rainbow Warriors with 10 rebounds, helping Hawai'i dominate the rebounding battle with a massive 53-26 advantage. The Warriors also shot an impressive 96% from the free throw line, converting 25 of 26 attempts, which allowed them to gradually pull away in the second half.
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Anteaters Bring Efficient Offense Into Championship
The UC Irvine Anteaters enter the championship with a 23-10 overall record and a 15-5 conference record. UC Irvine advanced to this round after recently winning over Cal State Northridge 93-78 in the Big West semifinal. The Anteaters have recently won over Cal State Northridge, UC Davis, Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara, and Cal State Northridge in their last five games.
UC Irvine has averaged 77.3 points per game while allowing 68.4 points per game this season. The Anteaters shoot 47% from the field and average 40.3 rebounds and 16.2 assists per game. Defensively they contribute 5.9 blocks and 7.8 steals per game, demonstrating strong interior defense combined with active perimeter pressure.
In their semifinal win over Cal State Northridge, Derin Saran led UC Irvine with 23 points while also making a significant impact on the glass. Saran also led the Anteaters with nine rebounds, helping UC Irvine control the boards while shooting 52% from the field. UC Irvine also connected on 40% of its three-point attempts, demonstrating the offensive efficiency that has helped power their late-season winning streak.
Hawai'i vs UC Irvine Pick
Hawai'i vs UC Irvine Spread Pick
- Pick: UC Irvine Moneyline
While Hawai'i has been strong defensively and rebounded well in their semifinal victory, UC Irvine enters this matchup with strong offensive efficiency and balanced team play. The Anteaters’ ability to move the ball effectively and generate quality scoring opportunities should allow them to keep pressure on Hawai'i throughout the game. With their depth and recent offensive momentum, UC Irvine has a strong chance to win this championship matchup outright.
Hawai'i vs UC Irvine Total Pick
- Pick: Over 146.5
I like the over in this matchup because both teams have demonstrated the ability to score efficiently when their offenses are clicking. UC Irvine is coming off a 93-point performance while shooting over 50% from the field, and Hawai'i has averaged 80 points per game this season. With both teams capable of pushing the pace and generating scoring runs, this championship game has the potential to reach the high 70s for both sides.
Final Score Prediction: UC Irvine 78, Hawai'i 74
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