UC Santa Barbara Gauchos vs Bakersfield Roadrunners NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 2/6/25

Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Gauchos versus the Roadrunners? Tip off is at at 9:30 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Icardo Center in Bakersfield, CA. In this Big West matchup, UC Santa Barbara is favored bt -2.5 vs. Bakersfield. The over/under for the game is 143 points.

UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS VS BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Bakersfield Roadrunners +2.5

This game will be played at Icardo Center at 9:30 ET on Thursday, February 6th.

WHY BET THE BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-72 in favor of the Roadrunners.
• Not only will Bakersfield pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +2.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 143 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.

Will the Gauchos Find a Way to Win in Bakersfield?

UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Recent Game/Games

UC Santa Barbara improved to 12-8 on the season with an 85-54 home win over Long Beach State on Saturday. The Gauchos entered the game as 9-point favorites and covered the spread, while the total points of 139 went over the pre-game line of 136.5.

Leading 38-26 at halftime, UCSB clamped down defensively in the second half, allowing just 28 points while scoring 47 of their own.

UC Santa Barbara put up 85 points in their last game, shooting 53.6% from the field and hitting 57.1% of their three-point attempts (12/21). Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 64.3%, and they connected on 72.2% of their free throws (13/18).

Devin Askew led the way with 23 points and 10 rebounds, despite shooting just 31.8% overall. Stephan Swenson added 20 points and 5 assists, while Cole Anderson was perfect from beyond the arc, hitting 5/5 threes and finishing with 15 points.

Even though the Gauchos gave up 54 points, they allowed their opponent to shoot 53% from the field, with 30 made baskets on 56 attempts. Inside the arc, the opposing team hit 51% of their shots, going 18/35 on two-point attempts.

From three-point range, UC Santa Barbara’s defense allowed 12 threes on 21 attempts, a 57% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 18 times, where they converted 13, shooting 72%. The Gauchos gave up 11 offensive rebounds in the game.

Can Bakersfield Secure a Home Victory?

Bakersfield Roadrunners Recent Game/Games

The Roadrunners dropped to 8-13 on the season after an 88-62 loss to the Matadors on Saturday. Bakersfield, who entered the game as +9.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread.

After trailing 44-22 at halftime, Bakersfield scored 40 points in the 2nd half but allowed 44. The game’s total points of 150 just missed the O/U line of 150.5.

The Roadrunners struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 33.9% from the field and 22.2% from three-point range, finishing with 62 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 37.5%, but they did hit 83.3% of their free throws, going 20-for-24 from the line.

Keonte Jones led the way with 16 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 58.3% from the field. Scotty Washington added 15 points, hitting 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, while PJ Fuller II and Jemel Jones each contributed 13 points.

Despite Bakersfield’s defensive efforts, they allowed 88 points on 50% shooting from the field. The opposing team hit 31 of their 61 shots, including 24 of 46 from two-point range, shooting 52%.

From beyond the arc, Bakersfield gave up 7 threes on 15 attempts, with the other team shooting 46%. They also sent the other team to the line 25 times, where they made 19 free throws, shooting 76%. Bakersfield allowed 11 offensive rebounds.