UC Santa Barbara vs UC Irvine Expert Prediction and Picks February 15

UC Santa Barbara vs UC Irvine Betting Preview

The Goldsheet offers their expert predictions and picks for tonight’s UC Santa Barbara vs UC Irvine Big West matchup from The Thunderdome in Santa Barbara, CA. UC Santa Barbara defeated UC Irvine in their previous matchup this season 73-65 in Irvine.

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UC Santa Barbara vs UC Irvine Basketball Betting Odds

Wednesday, February 15	College Basketball Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars
Point Spread:	UC Santa Barbara Gauchos -2.5 vs UC Irvine Anteaters
Total:	137 Points
Arena:	The Thunderdome in Santa Barbara, CA
Game Time:	10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT
TV:	ESPN+

UC Santa Barbara vs UC Irvine Betting Analysis

First place in the Big West is up for grabs tonight as the current top seed UC Santa Barbara hosts second-place UC Irvine at the Thunderdome.

The Gauchos are 10-1 at home this season with that lone loss coming by one point against UC-Riverside in mid-January.

UC Santa Barbara won the first meeting 73-65 in Irvine behind a 22-point, 11-rebound night from Andre Kelly. The 6-9 Cal transfer is going to miss tonight’s game because of suspension after getting into an altercation in the Gauchos’ last game against UC Davis.

Santa Barbara will also likely be missing key reserve Koat Keat Tong, who left that game against UC Davis with a knee injury.

Differing Paces For Gauchos and Anteaters

These two squads prefer to play at different paces with UC Irvine open to do some more running while UC Santa Barbara prefers to slow things down.

The Gauchos were able to play at their preferred pace in the first meeting, playing at 66 possessions which is three below Irvine’s season average. That’s going to be a key number here in this one as well.

UC Irvine has also slowed things down over the past two games as the Anteaters re-introduce 7-0 sophomore Bent Leuchten back into the lineup.

The German center missed eight games (including the first meeting with UC Santa Barbara) with an injury before returning last week. Leuchten dropped 31 points in 20 minutes against UC Davis prior to his absence, so he’s definitely someone the Anteaters want to work their offense through.

Expect Action Inside the Arch

We’re looking toward the under in this contest for a handful of reasons. The atmosphere should be electric at the Thunderdome tonight.

Santa Barbara is trying to create a “Blue Out” with incentives for students to come out. First place in the conference is on the line. Nerves might be kicking in a little bit more than they normally would.

Second, neither team shoots a high volume of three pointers. Both teams prefer to work inside the arc. Santa Barbara is No. 339 in three-point volume, and Irvine is outside the top-300 as well.

These two teams combined to make 11 three-pointers in the first meeting. So we’re unlikely to see a three-point contest break out.

UC Santa Barbara vs UC Irvine Expert Prediction

Finally, Santa Barbara’s rotation will be very, very thin tonight. The Gauchos enter this contest at No. 311 in the country in bench usage.

Joe Pasternack has used an eight-man rotation since the start of Big West play. Assuming Koat Keat Tong is unable to go because of injury, two of those eight men will be out tonight.

UC Santa Barbara can’t get into an up-and-down track meet with only six players. Look for the Gauchos to keep things as slow and controlled as possible.

Prediction:

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College Basketball Stat Sheet

GoldSheet prepares a daily college basketball stat sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Wednesday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s UC Santa Barbara vs UC Irvine prediction and contest.

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