UC Santa Barbara vs UC Riverside Prediction 2/15/25 College Basketball Picks

The UCSB Gauchos are visiting the UC-Riverside Highlanders on Saturday, February 15th at the SRC Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a UCSB Gauchos vs UC-Riverside Highlanders Prediction. We will examine:

The UC-Riverside Highlanders’ recent form and player performance

The UCSB Gauchos’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UC-Riverside Highlanders

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the UCSB Gauchos

Recent betting trends in games played between the UCSB Gauchos and UC-Riverside Highlanders

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

UC-Riverside Highlanders Preview

The UC Riverside Highlanders have a 16-9 record this season and are sitting in 4th place in the Big West. They are coming off a 69-64 win over Cal State Bakersfield. The Highlanders are 13-9-1 against the spread, and 12-11 in over/under while having an 11-1 home record.

Offensively, UC Riverside is averaging 72.7 points per game, which ranks 231st in the nation. Defensively, they allow 72.8 points per game (217th). The Highlanders shoot 42.1% from the field (322nd) and 33.3% from beyond the arc (221st). The Highlanders shoot 72.7% from the free throw line (159th) and are grabbing 37.5 rebounds per game (74th).

Barrington Hargress leads UC Riverside in scoring this season, with an average of 19.6 points, adding a team-high 3.8 assists, while Kaleb Smith adds 11 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

UCSB Gauchos Preview

The UCSB Gauchos have a 16-9 record this season and are sitting in 6th place in the Big West. The Gauchos are coming off a 60-62 loss to UC Irvine. The Gauchos are 10-13 against the spread, and 10-13 in over/under, while having a 6-5 road record.

Offensively, UCSB is averaging 74.1 points per game, which ranks 186th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 66.5 points per game (45th). The Gauchos shoot 47.6% from the field (54th) and 39.2% from beyond the arc, which is the 13th-best in the nation. The Gauchos shoot 75% from the free-throw line (71st) and are grabbing 34.9 rebounds per game (219th). 

Stephan Swenson leads UCSB in scoring this season, with an average of 13.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and a team-high 4.5 assists, while Kenny Pohto adds 12.1 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game.

Why the UC Riverside Highlanders will win

• UC Riverside has won 12 of its last 13 games at Student Recreation Center Arena.
• UC Santa Barbara has lost three of its last four games at Student Recreation Center Arena.
• UC Riverside has won the first half in each of its last four day games at Student Recreation Center Arena.

Why the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos will win

• UC Santa Barbara has won six of its last seven games following a road loss.
• UC Santa Barbara has won the first half in three of its last four games against the Big West Conference.

UCSB Gauchos vs UC-Riverside Highlanders Prediction

UC-Riverside is 4-2 in their last 6 meetings against UCSB, and is 5-1 against the spread. Under is 4-2 in their last 6 meetings, and in their most recent meeting earlier this season, UCSB won 66-63 at home, not covering the spread, as the game went under the point total.

In this UCSB Gauchos vs UC-Riverside Highlanders Prediction, UC-Riverside is coming as a -1.5 home favorites. Both teams have the exact same records this season, but the Highlanders have been almost perfect in their 12 home games so far, while the Gauchos are average on the road. UCSB is 3-1 against the spread in their last 4 games, while UC Riverside is 1-3 against the spread. The Gauchos have already won the Highlanders once this season, and I expect them to keep this one close on the road today. Take the UCSB Gauchos and lay the points on the road.