UC-Santa Barbara vs Idaho State 12/22/21 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Idaho State Bengals and the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos meet Wednesday in college basketball action from UCSB Events Center. Idaho State is 2-8 this year so far. The Bengals beat Bethesda in their last game. As for UC Santa Barbara, they’re 6-4 and fresh off a win over Florida A&M. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Idaho State managed a win over Eastern OR in their opener this year, then lost to Pepperdine, Seattle, Nebraska, UMKC, Air Force, Portland State, Northern Arizona and California. The Bengals stopped the bleeding with a Saturday win over Bethesda. 

In the Bethesda matchup, the Bengals posted 51 points in the first half and 52 more from there in a 103-68 blowout victory. Jared Rodriguez led the team with a double-double on 24 points and 12 boards, while AJ Burgin added 15 points. 

Over on the UC Santa Barbara side, they went 5-3 over their first eight games with victories over San Francisco State, Chicago State, AR-Pine Bluff, Pepperdine and Cal Lutheran. After a loss to Pacific, the Gauchos bounced back with a win over Florida A&M. 

Matched up against the Rattlers on Sunday, the Gauchos went into the break with a 41-23 lead. UCSB held on from there in a 73-62 win. Ajay Mitchell topped the team on 13 points, and Amadou Sow added 10 rebounds with his nine points. 

The Gauchos are 5-2 ATS in their last seven at home and 1-4 ATS in their last five overall. The over is 3-0-1 in UCSB’s last four overall. 

Meanwhile, the Bengals are 0-6 ATS in their last six road games and 3-13 ATS in their last 16 overall. The under is 20-8 in Idaho State’s last 28 overall. 

PICK: I’m going to stay with UC Santa Barbara here. The Gauchos have scored pretty well over their last five games, with 71 or more in four of those. UCSB has had a couple of bad games when they let the defense falter, but overall they’re doing well in comparable matchups. 

As for the Bengals, they’ve been at 60 points or below in seven of their last nine outings. It’s going to take quite the offensive push to keep up here, and I don’t think Idaho State has the gas to do it.