UC Santa Barbara vs Cal Irvine Prediction 2/13/25 College Basketball Picks

The UCSB Gauchos are visiting the UC-Irvine Anteaters on Thursday, February 13th at the Bren Events Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a UCSB Gauchos vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Prediction. We will examine:

The UC-Irvine Anteaters’ recent form and player performance

The UCSB Gauchos’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UC-Irvine Anteaters

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UCSB Gauchos

Recent betting trends in games played between the UCSB Gauchos and UC-Irvine Anteaters

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the UCSB Gauchos UC-Irvine Anteaters game

UC-Irvine Anteaters Preview

The UC Irvine Anteaters have a 20-4 record this season and are sitting in first place in the Big West. They are coming off a 67-85 loss to UC San Diego. The Anteaters are 15-8 against the spread, and 10-13 in over/under, while having an 8-1 home record.

Offensively, UC-Irvine is averaging 75.8 points per game, which ranks 136th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 66 points per game (40th). The Anteaters shoot 44.7% from the field (190th) and 35.3% from beyond the arc (107th). The Anteaters shoot 80.8% from the free-throw line, which is the 5th-best in the nation, and are grabbing 39.3 rebounds per game (29th).

Bent Leuchten leads UC-Irvine in scoring with an average of 16 points and a team-high 9.1 rebounds, while Devin Tillis adds 13.3 points and 8 rebounds per game.

UCSB Gauchos Preview

The UCSB Gauchos have a 16-8 record this season and are sitting in 6th place in the Big West. The Gauchos are coming off a 76-72 win over Hawaii. The Gauchos are 9-13 against the spread, and 10-12 in over/under while having a 6-4 road record.

Offensively, UCSB is averaging 74.7 points per game, which ranks 169th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 66.7 points per game (49th). The Gauchos shoot 48% from the field (38th) and 39.4% from beyond the arc (9th). The Gauchos shoot 75.3% from the free-throw line (64th) and are grabbing 34.9 rebounds per game (223rd). 

Stephan Swenson leads UCSB in scoring this season, with an average of 13.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and a team-high 4.6 assists, while Kenny Pohto adds 12 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game.

Why the UC Irvine Anteaters will win

• UC Irvine has won 22 of its last 23 games at Bren Events Center.
• UC Santa Barbara has lost seven of its last eight games at Bren Events Center.
• UC Santa Barbara has lost the first half in each of its last eight games at Bren Events Center.

Why the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos will win

• UC Santa Barbara has won four of its last five games.
• UC Santa Barbara has won the first half in four of its last five games against the Big West Conference.

Matchup/League Facts

• UC Irvine ranks 5th among Division 1 teams for free throw percentage this season (80.8%).
• UC Irvine ranks 5th among Division 1 teams for opponent free throws made per game this season (9.4).
• UC Santa Barbara ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for opponent blocks per game this season (1.9).
• UC Santa Barbara ranks 9th among Division 1 teams for a three-point percentage this season (39.4%).

UCSB Gauchos vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Prediction

UC-Irvine is 7-3 in their 10 meetings against UCSB and is 7-3 against the spread. Over is 5-3 in their 8 meetings and in their most recent meeting last season, UC-Irvine won 81-69 at home, covering the spread, as the game went over the point total.

In this UCSB Gauchos vs UC-Irvine Anteaters Prediction, UC-Irvine is coming as a -8.5 home favorites. Both teams have been excellent this season, but UC Irvine is almost perfect in their nine home games this season, while UCSB is just above average on the road. Both teams have not been in very good form lately, as they are 1-4 and 2-7 against the spread in their recent games, but they are a strong 12-1 to the over in their last 13 games combined. I expect another high-scoring affair, so take the over.