I would hazard a "no" guess.
There is plenty of room for respect / disrespect violence regarding sports rivalries. And where there is respect / disrepect driven violence, there is always a chance of eventual horrific over kill violence linked to the subject,
But, there also seem to be detractors regarding the possibility of a game linkage:
As for an indirect game linkage:
- other posters pointed out that the game was not the kind of game that would result in alot of UC Davis fans driving the distance. This would reduce the chances of the perpetrator being game linked regardless of the motive.
As for a direct game linkage:
- Though very likely supportive of their team, there are no indications that any of the victims were passionate sports fans. And/ or say, ran a hyperbolic home town sports blog.
- The victims were not decked out in school colors the night they were attacked that would make them a natural target for somebody with a game motive. There are no indications that they had any confrontation with opposing fans at say, a local bar.
- Nor are there indications that they were affiliated with ubber fans (at my college there was a section of bleachers where the "Rude Crew" sat- known for crazy dress, taunts and occasionally getting kicked out).