Cal State-Bakersfield vs UC-Santa Barbara Odds and Picks

• UC-Santa Barbara take a 10-game win streak into Friday night’s home date with the Cal State-Bakersfield Roadrunners
• Gauchos have vaulted to the top of the Big West standings during an 8-0 run in conference play, while the Roadrunners aim for a fourth straight win
• We’ve got you covered with all the odds and trends ahead of Friday night’s clash at the Thunderdome

The UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos put a ten-game win streak and sole possession of top spot in the Big West conference on the line on Friday (11:00 pm ET), when they host the surging Cal State-Bakersfield Roadrunners as 8.5-point favorites.

The Gauchos return home after going unbeaten on their recent six-game road trip. Trailing UCSB by just a single game in the conference standings, the Roadrunners open a crucial two-game series with the Gauchos riding a three-game win streak.

Here’s a look at all the odds and trends ahead of Friday night’s matchup at the Thunderdome.

Cal State-Bakersfield Roadrunners vs UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos Odds

Odds from FanDuel on Feb. 19. 2021.

Gauchos Finally Return Home

Friday’s contest marks the first time the Gauchos have hit home hardwood in over a month. The club last hosted a game back on January 16, an 84-53 rout of UC-San Diego as heavy 12.5-point chalk, but had two dates with Long Beach State later in the month postponed when the beach entered a two-week pause due to COVID-19.

10 straight wins for @UCSBbasketball as the Big West leading Gauchos outlast Hawai'i in overtime 81-74.
The school record for wins in a row is 11.
UCSB is 14-3 and 8-2 in league.
JaQuori McLauglin: 19 pts, 5 assists
Devearl Ramsey: 17 pts
Amadou Sow: 16 pts
Miles Norris: 11 pts

— Mike Klan (@KEYTNC3Mike) February 14, 2021

A stretch of six road contests did not slow down UCSB, with the team going unbeaten SU, and 5-1 ATS. Indeed, the Gauchos have regularly beaten up on conference opponents. The team has claimed victory by nine or more points in five of their eight matchups with Big West rivals during their current 10-game win streak.

Amadou Sow puts up 16 points. Play of the game from UC Santa Barbara Vs Hawai'i on February 14.#bballmali pic.twitter.com/vcQxSQhQSh

— Bballmali (@bballmali) February 14, 2021

Jaquori McLaughlin leads a Gauchos offense that ranks 37th in the nation with 79.1 points scored per game, and has topped that total in six of seven outings. McLaughlin is coming off a team-high 19-point performance in UCSB’s 81-74 overtime win in Hawaii last weekend, and has averaged 18 points per game over his past six outings. And junior big man Amadou Sow has found his offensive touch. The team’s rebound leader has averaged 13.1 points over his past eight outings, and recorded four double-doubles during that stretch.

Roadrunners Paying Dividends on the Road

While the red-hot Gauchos have attracted the attention of AP Top 25 voters, the Roadrunners arrive in town just one game back in the Big West standings look to overcome their recent middling play on the road. The team dominated in a two-game sweep of UC-San Diego on home court last weekend, but has alternated between wins and losses in their past four road dates, and sport a 6-6 SU away record on the season. However, the Roadrunners have remained a solid bet on the road, with each of their six wins coming as betting underdogs.

U know what’s impressive?? The fact that CSU Bakersfield (@CSUB_MBB) is 10-5 overall, in 2nd place in the Big West, and hold opponents to just 60 ppg… and only have ONE player who averages double-digit ppg (Taze Moore, 11 ppg).

THAT’S IMPRESSIVE!!!! #TEAM

— Richie Schueler (@RichieSchueler) January 28, 2021

With leading scorer Taze Moore averaging just 11.4 points per game, the Roadrunners have had to get offensive contributions from up and down the lineup. The team has averaged just 67.7 points per game during their 3-0 SU run, but has picked up the slack with some solid defensive play. CSU Bakersfield have allowed fewer than 60 points per game over their past three, and limited opponents to less than 60 on eight occasions overall this season, including four times on the road. That stinginess extends to dates with the Gauchos.

The Roadrunners have dropped two of three all-time meetings with UCSB, but have kept things close, failing to defeat by a combined margin of just six points in those contests, and limiting the Gauchos to just 63 points per game. But while CSU Bakersfield is likely to make a frustrating opponent, the Roadrunners are unlikely to stop the best team in the Big West.

The Pick: Gauchos -8.5 (-110); UNDER 130.5 (-110)