Santa Clara vs Pepperdine Prediction 3/9/25 College Basketball Picks Today
Pepperdine (12-21) vs. Santa Clara (20-11)
March 9, 2025 8:30 pm EDT
The Line: Santa Clara -16.5; Over/Under: 155.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Pepperdine Waves and Santa Clara Broncos meet Sunday in the college basketball WCC Quarterfinal at the Orleans Arena. Here’s a Santa Clara vs Pepperdine Prediction. This article will include a Santa Clara vs Pepperdine Pick.
Pepperdine Waves Betting Preview
The Pepperdine Waves recently played Portland, Washington State, and Oregon State. Pepperdine has a chance to win three straight games for the first time since December 4-14.
The Pepperdine Waves are averaging 72.9 points on 44.1 percent shooting and allowing 77 points on 45.6 percent shooting. Stefan Todorovic is averaging 18 points and 5.8 rebounds, while Moe Odum is averaging 12.6 points and 7.4 assists. Boubacar Coulibaly is grabbing 7.1 rebounds and Zion Bethea is dishing 0.7 assists. The Pepperdine Waves are shooting 34 percent from beyond the arc and 71.1 percent from the free throw line. The Pepperdine Waves are allowing 33.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.2 rebounds per game.
Santa Clara Broncos Betting Preview
The Santa Clara Broncos recently played Washington State, Gonzaga, and Pacific. Santa Clara has won six of its last eight games but hasn’t played in eight days.
The Santa Clara Broncos are averaging 81.5 points on 46.9 percent shooting and allowing 72.7 points on 43.2 percent shooting. Adama-Alpha Bal is averaging 13.1 points and 2.5 rebounds, while Carlos Stewart Jr. is averaging 12.4 points and 2.5 rebounds. Christoph Tilly is the third double-digit scorer and Elijah Mahi is grabbing 4.2 rebounds. The Santa Clara Broncos are shooting 37.8 percent from beyond the arc and 72.7 percent from the free throw line. The Santa Clara Broncos are allowing 30.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 34.5 rebounds per game.
Why the Santa Clara Broncos will win
- Santa Clara has won each of its last six games against Pepperdine.
- Pepperdine has lost 21 of its last 28 night games.
- Pepperdine has lost the first half in each of its last eight night games against non-AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue.
Why the Pepperdine Waves will win
- Pepperdine has won three of its last four games at Orleans Arena.
- Santa Clara has lost three of its last four games against the West Coast Conference at Orleans Arena.
- Santa Clara has lost the first half in three of its last four Conference Tournament night games at Orleans Arena.
Total Points Facts
- Ten of Pepperdine’s last 11 night games at a neutral venue have produced a total of 155 or fewer points.
- Seven of Santa Clara’s last eight night games against non-AP-ranked opponents at Orleans Arena have produced a total of 157+ points.
Matchup/League Facts
- Santa Clara ranks 6th among Division 1 teams for three-point field goals made per game this season (10.8).
- Santa Clara ranks T19th among Division 1 teams for assists per game this season (16.9).
- Pepperdine ranks 48th among Division 1 teams for assists per game this season (15.9).
- Pepperdine ranks 50th among Division 1 teams for assist to turnover ratio this season (1.42).
Santa Clara vs Pepperdine Injury Report
Santa Clara doesn’t have a player listed on its injury report. Pepperdine will be without Javon Cooley due to an undisclosed issue.
Santa Clara vs Pepperdine Prediction
Santa Clara rocked Pepperdine back in December by 11 points, but that was the only meeting this season. Santa Clara is obviously the better team and has the rest advantage, as it hasn’t played in eight days, while Pepperdine will play its third game in as many days. You can understand why the line is what it is.
With that said, that’s a lot of time off for Santa Clara, and you have to wonder if that impacts the play. Pepperdine just beat Oregon State has a double-digit underdog, and a couple of wins can do wonders for a teams’ confidence. We’ve seen in countless times in March where a team just piles up wins out of nowhere. I’ll take a shot with the boatload of points, as this line feels inflated.
