Cal Irvine vs UC San Diego Prediction 3/15/25 College Basketball Picks

The UC-Irvine Anteaters are facing the UC-San Diego Tritons on Saturday, March 15th at the Lee’s Family Forum, in the Final Game of the Big West conference. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a UC-Irvine Anteaters vs UC-San Diego Tritons Prediction. We will examine:

The UC-San Diego Tritons recent form and player performance

The UC-Irvine Anteaters recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UC-San Diego Tritons

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UC-Irvine Anteaters

Recent betting trends in games played between the UC-Irvine Anteaters and UC-San Diego Tritons

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for UC-Irvine Anteaters vs UC-San Diego Tritons game

UC-San Diego Tritons Preview

The UC-San Diego Tritons have a 29-4 record this season and were placed first in the Big West. UC-San Diego is coming off a 69-51 win over UCSB in the conference semifinals last night. The Tritons are 24-7 against the spread, and 13-17-1 in over/under.

Offensively, UC-San Diego is averaging 79.9 points per game, which ranks 40th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 61.6 points per game, which is the 8th-best nationally. The Tritons shoot with 46.5% from the field (88th), and with 36.5% from beyond the arc (50th). The Tritons shoot with 74.7% from the free-throw line (87th), and are grabbing 30.3 rebounds per game (286th).

Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones leads UC-San Diego in scoring this season, with 20 points, adding team-highs both in rebounding with 8 and in assists made with 9 per game. Tyler McGhie adds 13 points and 5 rebounds per game.

UC-Irvine Anteaters Preview

The UC Irvine Anteaters have a 28-5 record this season and were placed 2nd in the Big West. They are coming off a 96-78 win over Cal Poly in the conference semifinals last night. The Anteaters are 21-11 against the spread, and 14-18 in over/under.

Offensively, UC-Irvine is averaging 76.3 points per game, which ranks 126th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 65.9 points per game (29th). The Anteaters shoot with 45.8% from the field (141st), and with 35.5% from beyond the arc (127th). The Anteaters shoot with 80.2% from the free-throw line, which is the 6th-best in the nation, and are grabbing 35.2 rebounds per game (37th).

Bent Leuchten leads UC-Irvine in scoring with an average of 21 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, while Devin Tillis adds 17 points, 8 rebounds, and a team-high 6 assists per game.

Why the UC San Diego Tritons will win

• UC San Diego has won each of its last 14 games.
• UC Irvine has lost three of its last four Conference Tournament night games.
• UC San Diego has won the first half in 10 of its last 11 games against the Big West Conference.

Why the UC Irvine Anteaters will win

• UC Irvine has won 21 of its last 22 Saturday night games against the Big West Conference.
• UC Irvine has won the first half in 22 of its last 29 night games against the Big West Conference.

Total Points Facts

• Each of UC Irvine’s last seven Conference Tournament night games have produced a total of 139+ points.
• Five of the last six games between UC Irvine and UC San Diego have produced a total of 136+ points.

Matchup/League Facts

• UC San Diego ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for opponent assist to turnover ratio this season (0.68).
• UC San Diego ranks 2nd among Division 1 teams for point differential per game this season (+18.3).
• UC Irvine ranks 6th among Division 1 teams for free throw percentage this season (80.2%).
• UC Irvine ranks T6th among Division 1 teams for opponent free throw attempts per game this season (13.5).

UC-Irvine Anteaters vs UC-San Diego Tritons Prediction

UC-Irvine is 7-3 in their last 10 meetings against UC-San Diego, and are 6-4 against the spread. Over is 4-1 in their last 5 meetings, and both teams are tied 1-1 wins this season, with each one winning on the road. UC San Diego won by 85-67 and UC Irvine by 60-52.  

In this UC-Irvine Anteaters vs UC-San Diego Tritons Prediction, UC-San Diego is coming as -5.5-point favorites. I think the point spread is too big in favor of the Tritons, as both teams have almost the same number of wins this season, and Irvine has more wins away from home than San Diego (14 to 12), and both teams also split wins in the regular season. Both teams are coming in great form, as the Tritons are coming off 14 consecutive wins, but are 1-2 against the spread in their last 3. UC Irvine is 8-1 in their last 9 games and 5-1 against the spread. I think the 5.5-point spread is too big, as I expect a very close game between those two teams, so take the plus points with UC-Irvine in this one.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: UC-Irvine Anteaters +5.5