Cal State Northridge vs UC Santa Barbara Picks and Prediction – 1/31/2025

The Cal State Northbridge Matadors are heading to the Thunderdome on Thursday, where they will face the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. Get the rest of our free college basketball picks here! The Matadors currently sit fifth in the Big West, entering this game with a 13-7 record. After consecutive wins the, Matadors would suffer a 79-54 loss against UC San Diego the following game. Marcus Adams led the Matadors with 15 points and 5 rebounds in this one. Cal State Northbridge has been a very effective offensive team, scoring 80.3 points per game on 46.7% shooting from the field and 33.5% from three. The Matadors have also been strong on the defensive end, posting a 97.8 defensive rating.

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos have gone 13-7 through twenty games which places them sixth in the Big West. The Gauchos have picked up wins in 6 of their last 8 games, most recently earning an 83-75 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Saturday. Cole Anderson scored a team-high 30 points in this game, while Kenny Pohto dropped 12 points and 3 assists. UC Santa Barbara has been a mediocre offensive squad this year, scoring 74.0 points per game on 47.2% shooting from the field and 37.6% from three.

The Gauchos look for their seventh win in their last nine games, while the Matadors hope to shake off a loss from UC San Diego. Cal State Northbridge has been a better team on both ends of the floor, expect them to cover the -1.5 spread. Final score prediction, Matadors win 80-75.