CS Bakersfield vs UC Santa Barbara Picks and Prediction – 3/13/2025

The Big West Conference Tournament kicks off on March 12, 2025, featuring a first-round matchup between the eighth-seeded Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (14-18, 8-12 Big West) and the fifth-seeded UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (19-12, 11-9 Big West). The game is set to take place at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nevada. Get in all the basketball action with our free NCAAB picks.

Cal State Bakersfield enters the tournament aiming to capitalize on their recent run of form. The Roadrunners secured a convincing 76-64 victory over Hawaii in their previous outing, covering the spread as 2.5-point favorites. They rank second in the conference in three-point shooting percentage, boasting a 38.3% success rate from beyond the arc. However, consistency has been an issue, as they have gone 4-6 in their last ten games and are 1-3 against the spread in recent matchups. Jemel Jones will tell the tale for the Roadrunners, he averages 19.1 points per game.

UC Santa Barbara, on the other hand, has shown resilience throughout the season. Despite a recent 97-88 loss to UC Irvine, the Gauchos have demonstrated strong performances, particularly from senior guard Stephan Swenson, who has delivered clutch buzzer-beater victories against UC Riverside and Cal Poly. The Gauchos have a favorable record against Cal State Bakersfield, having won their last ten encounters, with an average scoring margin of +10.1 points.

In conference tournaments we also see odd things happen as one game can end a team's season. Cal State Bakersfield has all the things you want from an underdog in March. The Roadrunners shoot it well from three, play tenacious D, and have an elite scorer. We like the Roadrunners to get the win 77-75.