It will be a battle between WAC opponents when the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros (9-8, 1-0 WAC) welcome the Bakersfield Roadrunners (10-5, 2-0 WAC) to UTRGV Fieldhouse. The game gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 10, 2019.
Bakersfield Roadrunners vs. UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros ATS Prediction
In the Roadrunners’ last game, they were beaten by the No. 20 TCU Horned Frogs, 66-61. Getting to the charity stripe was one of TCU’s largest advantages. They made 27 trips to the line, while Bakersfield went just 14 times. Jarkel Joiner was the top scorer from either team with 18 points on 6-for-15 shooting.
The Vaqueros defeated the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions in their last contest, 91-84. UT Rio Grande Valley’s 6.5 turnover percentage was their biggest advantage over Texas A&M-Commerce, who had a mark of 21.6. With 18 points and six rebounds, UT Rio Grande Valley’s Terry Winn III played well.
After the Vaqueros won both contests against the Roadrunners last season, this will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams. In the most recent game, UT Rio Grande Valley won 68-66. UT Rio Grande Valley did a terrific job of getting to and converting from the free throw line (21-27; 77.8 percent). Bakersfield, on the other hand, had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (50.0 vs. 32.4).
Lesley Varner II and Winn III have played at a high level over the last five games for UT Rio Grande Valley. Varner II has averaged 0 points per game. Not to be outdone, Winn III has recorded 0 points a game during that span.
The physical UT Rio Grande Valley offense seems poised to dominate from the free throw line. The Vaqueros currently rank 48th in the NCAA with a free throw attempt (FTA) rate of 0.283, while Bakersfield ranks 349th in FTA rate allowed (0.376). Furthermore, the Roadrunners are among the country’s elite on the offensive backboards, ranking 12th in offensive rebounding percentage (38.2 percent). The Vaqueros, meanwhile, rank 330th at securing defensive rebounds with a defensive rebounding percentage of 65.9 percent.
Bakersfield Roadrunners vs. UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros Betting Pick
Free Pick: SU Winner – UT Rio Grande Valley, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Notes:
Bakersfield ranks 40th in rebounds allowed per game (31.7) while UT Rio Grande Valley ranks 256th (41.1).
The Roadrunners rank seventh in blocks allowed per game (1.9) while the Vaqueros rank 132nd (4.1).
Bakersfield ranks 149th in three pointers attempted per game (22.2) while UT Rio Grande Valley ranks 249th (18.5).
The Roadrunners rank 20th in steals allowed per game (4.9) while the Vaqueros rank 103rd (6.5).
Bettings Trends:
The Roadrunners’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 4.2, up from 2.1 for the season.
During their last five games, the Vaqueros have scored an average of 75.4 points per game (6.6 above their season average) and allowed an average of 74.0 points per game (3.4 above their season average).
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