UC-Santa Barbara vs Loyola Marymount Prediction College Basketball Picks 12/18/24

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos and the Loyola Marymount Lions meet Wednesday in college basketball action from the Gersten Pavilion. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a UC Santa Barbara vs. Loyola Marymount prediction.

UC-Santa Barbara Recap

The UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos come into this game looking to build on their 83-66 win over Green Bay last time out. After this game, UC Santa Barbara will take on Missouri State, Hawaii, and CSU Bakersfield.

Gauchos Looking To Build Momentum

Jason Fontenet II leads the Gauchos in scoring and rebounding with 13.1 PPG and 7.3 RPG while Deuce Turner has 12.5 PPG and Kenny Pohto has 11.7 PPG and 7.3 RPG of his own this season. Stephan Swenson has 11.6 PPG with 3.5 RPG and a team-high 4.1 APG to lead the Gauchos in assists and to round out the group of double-digit scorers for UCSB so far this season. As a team UC Santa Barbara is averaging 78.8 PPG on 48.8% shooting from the field, 38% from three, and 74.3% from the foul line this season.

Why the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos will win

• UC Santa Barbara has won eight of its last nine games against non-conference opponents.
• Loyola Marymount has lost four of its last five games against the Big West Conference.

Loyola Marymount Recap

The Loyola Marymount Lions come into this one looking to add to their 76-75 win over Prairie View A&M last time out. After this game, LMU will face Southern, North Alabama, and San Francisco.

Lions Looking To Enter Break Strong

Will Johnston leads the Lions in scoring and assists with 15.7 PPG and 3.3 APG while Jevon Porter has 14 PPG with a team-high 8.5 RPG to lead the Lions on the glass up to this point in the year. Alex Merkviladze also has 11.1 PPG with 6.9 RPG and Caleb Stone-Carrawell has 12 PPG to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for LMU so far this season. As a team, Loyola Marymount is averaging 71.3 PPG on 42% shooting from the field, 32.1% from three, and 71.3% from the foul line up to this point in the year.

Why the Loyola Marymount Lions will win

• Loyola Marymount has won each of its last seven Wednesday games at Gersten Pavilion.
• UC Santa Barbara has lost each of its last five Wednesday night road games against non-conference opponents.

UC Santa Barbara vs. Loyola Marymount Prediction

I’m with UC Santa Barbara here. I just think the Gauchos are the better team here, and while Loyola Marymount has done some decent work at home, like beating Nevada, I just don’t like the state of this LMU defense and think that the Gauchos are one of the better teams in one of the more underappreciated conferences in the country in the Big West. I think the wrong team is favored here, so give me UCSB and the points.