UC-Santa Barbara vs Pacific Odds, Lines, and Spread (Dec. 14)

• The Pacific Tigers return home on Tuesday to face the UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos as betting underdogs
• The Tigers went winless on their recent three-game road trip, while the Gauchos continue to search for their first road victory of the season
• Read on for all the odds and trends ahead of Tuesday night’s clash at Spanos Center

The UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos continue the search for their first road win of the season when they visit the Pacific Tigers on Tuesday night as 3.5-point favorites.

The Tigers return home after going winless on a three-game road trip, capped by Saturday’s 78-66 defeat at the hands of San Jose State.

Tip off is set for 10:00pm ET on Tuesday night at Spanos Center.

UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos vs Pacific Tigers Odds

Odds at Fanduel as of December 14, 2021.

Gauchos vs Tigers Betting Trends

Tuesday night’s matchup marks the first meeting between these two teams since the Tigers moved to the West Coast Conference eight years ago. Historically, the Gauchos holed the edge in head-to-head action, going 11-6 SU and ATS in 17 meetings since 2006, but were outright losers in their past two road dates with Pacific.

Neither of these squads have been a dominant force at the sportsbooks this season. Santa Barbara has compiled a middling 3-3 SU and ATS record in six dates with Division I opponents. However, the Gauchos have been a reliable wager as road chalk, going 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in their past eight. Overall, the Tigers have been a betting disappointment, covering just once in eight dates with Division I opponents, and are winless SU and ATS as betting underdogs this season.

UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos Outlook

The Gauchos will be looking for answers after being thoroughly outclassed in Saturday’s 80-59 loss to the Saint Mary’s Gaels. The team’s offence took a big step back in the loss, generating their lowest point total since mid-February. It also extended the team’s continued struggles to score on the road, where they have averaged just 62 points per game over their past four.

But after scoring at least 81 points in each of their victories during a preceding 4-1 SU run, the Gauchos have maintained respectable adjusted offensive efficiency rating at Kenpom, where they sit at No. 86.

The Gaels roll the Gauchos 80-59 on Saturday afternoon in Moraga to improve to 9-2. pic.twitter.com/jq3AOGedpc

— Section925↗️ (@Section925) December 12, 2021

Slow starts have not helped the cause. The Gauchos have taken the lead into the dressing room at halftime in just two of their six Division I contests to date, and have averaged just 23.5 first-half points in their two road outings. However, with both those contests ending in defeat by a double-digit margin, the OVER easily paid out, and is 4-2 overall this season.

Amadou Sow, 6'8 big from UCSB, is having a really awesome season to this point. 19.1 PPG, 70% TS, 2.2 BLK% (down from his peak as a sophomore), and 13.4% ORB%. I saw him in person and was fairly impressed by his ability to simply fill gaps on both ends

— Bryce Hendricks (@BryceHendrick14) December 10, 2021

On a positive note, Amadou Sow has continued to effectively power the UCSB attack. Sow was the only Gauchos player to reach double digits in points in this past weekend’s loss to the Gaels. As a result, the senior big man continues to lead the squad by a wide margin with 18.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Pacific Tigers Outlook

The Tigers limp home after getting swept SU and ATS in their recent three-game road trip, capped by last weekend’s loss to San Jose State. Pacific has fallen to defeat by an average margin of nine points while averaging just 60 points per game during their current 0-3 slide. And while they have tallied outright wins in two of three home dates with Division I opponents, they have eked out just one ATS win over that stretch.

Spartans still haven’t lost at home! 5-0 at home and 5-4 overall after a 78-66 W over pacific! #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/SqD1cv6N92

— SSN – San Jose State (@SSN_SJSU) December 11, 2021

Indeed, with the exception of their dominating wins over lightweights Chicago State and Arkansas Pine Bluff, the Tigers have struggled to score. And like the Gauchos, slow starts are a massive concern. Pacific has averaged just 24 points before the half during its three-game slide, and never led after scoring the first basket in their recent loss to the Spartans.

Pacific – F Jeremiah Bailey (undisclosed) & G Luke Avdalovic (concussion) are questionable today versus San Jose St.

— freeplays (@freeplays) December 11, 2021

The silver lining for the Tigers in this past weekend’s defeat was the play of Jordan Bell. The senior big man led the team with 19 points while playing a season-high 32 minutes. Another senior, Jeremiah Bailey, continues to lead the squad with 13.2 points per game. However, Bailey has reportedly been dealing with an undisclosed injury, and tallied just seven points against San Jose State.

The Picks: Gauchos -3.5 (-110); UNDER 134.5 (-110)