Portland vs San Francisco Picks and Prediction – 1/10/2025

The Portland Pilots are set to face the San Francisco Dons on January 9, 2025, at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center in San Francisco, California. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Get in on the action with our free NCAAB picks.

Portland enters this matchup with a 5-12 overall record, including a 0-4 mark in West Coast Conference (WCC) play. The Pilots are currently on a four-game losing streak, with recent defeats against Oregon State (89-79), Gonzaga (81-50), Washington State (89-73), and Saint Mary's (81-58). In their latest game against Saint Mary's, junior guard Max Mackinnon led the team with 12 points and three assists, while freshman forward Austin Rapp contributed 10 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Rapp has been a consistent performer this season, averaging 13.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Defensively, the Pilots have struggled, allowing 79.2 points per game, which ranks them 10th in the WCC. Their offense averages 70.4 points per game, with a field goal percentage of 41.5% and a three-point shooting percentage of 32.8%. The team will need to improve its defensive efforts and shooting efficiency to compete against a strong San Francisco squad. 

On the other side, the San Francisco Dons hold a 13-4 overall record and a 3-1 record in WCC play. The Dons are coming off a 91-82 loss to Washington State, which snapped their four-game winning streak. In that game, senior guard Malik Thomas was a standout performer, scoring 34 points. Thomas leads the team with an average of 20.4 points per game. 

Historically, San Francisco has had the upper hand in this matchup, aiming for their fifth consecutive victory over Portland. The Dons are listed as heavy favorites, with a 20.5-point spread in their favor. Portland is not good, but San Francisco is struggling to cover this number against anyone. Prediction: The Dons win 88-70.