California-San Diego Tritons vs UC Santa Barbara Gauchos NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/5/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Tritons and Gauchos. The game is starting at 10:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Gauchos at The Thunderdome in Santa Barbara, CA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this game is set at 139 points, and UC Santa Barbara is favored by -3 vs. California-San Diego in a Big West conference matchup.

CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO TRITONS VS UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS BETTING PICK

The Pick: UC Santa Barbara Gauchos -3

This game will be played at The Thunderdome at 10:00 ET on Thursday, December 5th.

WHY BET THE UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 90-59 in favor of the Gauchos.
• Not only will UC Santa Barbara pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -3.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 139 points, and we like the over with a projected 149 points.

Can California-San Diego Pull Off a Road Win?

The Tritons improved to 5-2 on the season after a dominant 80-45 win over Toledo on Saturday. Entering the game as +1.5 point underdogs, UCSD not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.

After leading 34-25 at halftime, the Tritons clamped down defensively, allowing just 20 points in the 2nd half while scoring 46 of their own. The game’s total points of 125 fell well under the O/U line of 155.5.

California-San Diego’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 80 points on 56.1% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 66.7%, thanks in large part to their 77.8% shooting on two-point attempts.

Tyler McGhie led the way with 27 points, hitting 7 of 11 threes and shooting 62.5% overall. Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones added 19 points, making 8 of 10 shots from the field. The Tritons also hit 11 threes as a team, shooting 36.7% from beyond the arc.

California-San Diego put on a defensive clinic, holding their opponent to just 45 points on 30% shooting from the field. The Tritons were particularly effective inside, limiting the opposition to 35% on two-point attempts (10/28).

From beyond the arc, California-San Diego’s defense was just as stingy, allowing only 6 threes on 25 attempts (24%). They sent their opponent to the line 10 times, where they converted 7 free throws (70%). The Tritons also gave up 8 offensive rebounds.

Will UC Santa Barbara Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?

UC Santa Barbara improved to 5-1 on the season with an 81-48 win over Mississippi Valley State on Friday, November 29th. The Gauchos, playing at home, were -31.5 favorites going into the game and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 129, which was under the O/U line of 134.5.

Santa Barbara took control early, leading 43-21 at halftime. They added 38 points in the 2nd half while holding the Delta Devils to 27 points.

UC Santa Barbara put up 81 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and hitting 10 of 27 from beyond the arc at a 37% clip. Their effective field goal percentage was 58.6%, with strong two-point shooting at 61.3% (19/31).

The Gauchos grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and dished out 19 assists. Zion Sensley led the way with 16 points, hitting 3 of 7 from deep, while Kenny Pohto went a perfect 5 for 5 from the field, finishing with 12 points in just 11 minutes.

Despite giving up 48 points, UC Santa Barbara’s defense allowed their opponent to shoot 50% from the field, including 61% on two-point attempts (19/31). The Gauchos also conceded 10 three-pointers, with their opponent shooting 37% from beyond the arc (10/27).

From the free-throw line, UC Santa Barbara’s opponent went 13/21, hitting 61% of their attempts. The Gauchos also gave up 17 offensive rebounds in the game.