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UC Riverside heads to the University Credit Union Center to face UC Davis on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET, with ESPN+ carrying this Big West matchup. UC Davis is 11-8 and has been solid at home (8-3), while UC Riverside is 7-13 and has struggled away from home at 3-9. That home-road split is doing a lot of the work in the line.
The handicap is whether UC Davis can turn that edge into separation. UC Riverside has enough scoring at the top to hang around for a while, but they also have long stretches where the offense dries up, and that’s when big favorites in league play start covering spreads like this.
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UC Riverside Highlanders vs UC Davis Aggies Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Riverside Highlanders | +285 | +8.5 (-115) | O 150.5 |
| UC Davis Aggies | -375 | -8.5 (-109) | U 150.5 |
UC Riverside Highlanders Betting Form
UC Riverside’s offense runs through its top scorers, and that’s both good and limiting. Marqui Worthy Jr. is the consistent shot creator, and he just showed it again with 22 points against UC Irvine. Andrew Henderson’s scoring average gives Riverside a second lead option, and that’s important in road games because you can’t have one guy carrying every late-clock possession.
The issue is that Riverside’s overall efficiency and defensive resistance haven’t been strong enough to support them in tough spots. They’re averaging 71.8 points per game, which is workable, and the free throw rate is a plus because 74.6% at the line gives you points without needing perfect shooting. Still, when they fall behind by 8 to 12, they often have to play faster than they want, and the shot quality gets worse. That’s how underdogs lose covers.
If you want a quick look at how Riverside has been trending overall, the NCAAB teams hub is useful for checking results and context without overreacting to one box score.
UC Davis Aggies Betting Form
UC Davis has the profile of a home favorite that can actually create margin. They score 79.9 points per game, they can hit threes at volume (9.1 per game), and they’ve been consistent at the University Credit Union Center. Even coming off a loss to UC San Diego, they still got production from their key guys, which is usually what you want in a bounce-back spot. The floor is higher when the offense is built around multiple reliable scorers and a steady rebounding presence like Niko Rocak.
The spread at -8.5 is basically saying UC Davis should be in control for most of the night. That can happen two ways: by getting efficient looks early and never letting Riverside get comfortable, or by winning the possession battle and gradually pulling away with second chances and free throws. UC Davis doesn’t have to be perfect defensively if the offense stays efficient, but they do need to avoid turning this into a three-point variance game where Riverside can hang around.
UC Riverside Highlanders vs UC Davis Aggies Matchup Breakdown
The tempo question matters. UC Davis is fine playing faster, and Riverside will play quicker if they’re chasing, but Riverside’s best chance is keeping this more controlled and making UC Davis execute in the half court. If Riverside can limit transition and keep the game closer to a half-court possession game, +8.5 becomes more attractive because possessions are limited and each stop carries more weight.
Shot profile leans UC Davis. The Aggies have more reliable spacing and more ways to generate points, especially if the threes are falling. Riverside’s cover path is usually built on its top scorers being efficient and the team getting enough free throws to avoid dead stretches. If Riverside is missing threes and not getting to the line, it’s hard to keep up with a team scoring close to 80 per game.
For the total, 150.5 sits right where you’d expect for a Big West game that could be moderately paced but still efficient. The over has a path if UC Davis gets into the high 70s or low 80s and Riverside contributes in the low 70s. The under has a path if Riverside’s offense stalls and the game feels like Davis 78, Riverside 66 type of script.
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Jan 26, 2026 21:00 EST
–
Score
–
–
Spread
–
o+166.50-110
Total
u+166.50-110
–
Moneyline
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vs
Jan 26, 2026 20:00 EST
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Spread
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o+133.50-110
Total
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Jan 26, 2026 19:00 EST
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Score
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+1.50 -110
Spread
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o+136.50-104
Total
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UC Riverside Highlanders vs UC Davis Aggies Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is UC Davis -8.5. The home court split, the scoring edge, and the ability to create points from three all point to UC Davis being able to separate. Riverside can hang around early if Worthy and Henderson are cooking, but over 40 minutes I trust UC Davis to generate more consistent offense, especially at home.
I don’t see much value on the moneylines at these prices. If you like UC Davis, the spread is the better angle. If you like Riverside, I’d rather take the points than chase the +285, because Riverside’s win path requires a very clean scoring night and a game where Davis isn’t hitting threes.
On the total, I lean over 150.5, but it’s not a strong one. The math says it’s reachable, and UC Davis can do its part. The risk is Riverside’s offense falling into one of those stretches where they can’t score for four or five minutes, which is how totals die quietly.
Best Bet: UC Davis Aggies -8.5 (-109).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Big West games can be profitable if you stay disciplined about home splits and shot profiles. Some teams travel poorly because their offense needs rhythm and their defense doesn’t travel. Others travel fine because they can score at the line and rebound. The key is knowing which is which and pricing it correctly.
For more plays across the slate, check today’s college basketball picks and compare sides and totals across the board. Over time, the best results come from betting numbers that make sense for the game script, not just picking winners.
