College basketball: UC Santa Barbara at UC Irvine prediction, opportunities & how to watch

Although it is almost certain that UC Irvine has already secured a place at the Big West Conference tournament, UC Santa Barbara needs at least one or two more victories to lock up a place. The eight top teams of the conference can be justified for the conference tournament.

The Gauchos (16-8, 8-5) are fifth in the conference and will try to win one of these victories this evening when you visit UC Irvine. UCSB won three in a row and four of the last five.

The tatters (20-4, 10-2) are connected to UC San Diego for the top position of the league, against which they lost 85-67 on Saturday. You will bounce back with a win tonight.

UC Santa Barbara at UC Irvine opportunities

UC Irvine is an 8.5-point college basketball favorite at BetMGM against UC Santa Barbara, while the over/under is 139.5 points.

The Moneyline for UC Irvine is at -417 and +320 for UC Santa Barbara.

UC Santa Barbara at UC Irvine on TV

The Matchup between UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine is broadcast on ESPNU.

Today’s game types at 11 p.m.

UC Santa Barbara at UC Irvine Prediction

I assume that UC Santa Barbara will cover the 8.5-point spread as an outsider of the street. I also predict that this game will rise below 139.5 points.

These are two of the best defenses in the conference. UC Santa Barbara occupies the defense in third place and allows 66.7 points per game, while the 66 ppg from UC Irvine is permitted.

These are also the two best teams in Big West to defend the scope.

With UCSB, opponents can only shoot 32% from the outside, while UCI allows 32.4%. The defense of the arch is important for UCI because the Gauchos have the two best shooters in the league.

Cole Anderson’s 3-point percentage of 53.9% leads the country and shoots almost five 3 per game. Stephan Swenson is second in the BW and in the 12th in the country and shoots 44.7% from the outside. He also leads UCSB with 13.1 ppg.

The leaders did a great job this season, mainly because they don’t get the ball. However, the Gauchos have an apparent crime that contains a lot of dribble handoffs. I assume that there are some options for open 3s. UCSB only has to put it down as if it were all the season.

The gauchos are also patient, find open shots and can score on the rims if necessary. According to Kenpom, you have an effective field target percentage of 56.4% in conference games, which is the best in the league. Kenny Pohto has an average of 12 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and leads the conference in the field target percentage (61.7%).

The biggest key for UCSB is to stop 7-foot 1 bent lights. The senior of the Aneater is a force inside and leads the team with 16 points and 9.1 RPG. Pohto has the size to disturb it, but it has to be a team performance on the glass.

Devin Tillis adds 13.3 ppg and eight RPG, while Myles Che and Justin Hohn achieve 12 ppg for the ancestors.

UC Irvine is the better team, and although it will endeavor to wipe off his 18-point loss, I think that the gauchos are not a pushover and will not lose by double-digit ligites.

UCSB is 1-1-1 against the spread as an outsider and UCI is 13-6 ATS as a favorite. The tradition is 1-2 if the gauchos are an outsider and 9-10 when the tatters are a favorite.