UC San Diego vs Cal State Northridge Basketball Prediction & Picks: Win Streaks on the Line in Northridge

The two hottest teams in the Big West will match wits tonight, as the Tritons UC San Diego visit the Matadors of Cal State Northridge (10:00 pm ET, ESPN+).

UC San Diego (24-4, 14-2 Big West) is a game clear of UC Irvine (23-5, 13-3 Big West) atop the conference standings, with Northridge (20-7, 12-4 Big West) a further game back in third.

In their first season of NCAA Tournament eligibility, the Tritons, who enter tonight’s game at Premier America Credit Union Arena with a NET of 38, are trending towards being one of the top March Madness sleepers if they make the field of 68.

Picking up a tenth straight win will keep UCSD in sole possession of first place in the Big West, and it would be a helpful Q2 win, as the Matadors are 101^st in the NET entering tonight’s matchup.

It stands to potentially be one of their toughest remaining games on the road to March Madness, however, as CSUN has racked up seven straight wins, including an impressive 12-point win in Irvine, who had won 22 straight games at home until a loss to UCSD earlier this month.

UC San Diego vs Cal State Northridge Odds

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, where you can bet on college basketball odds for all of the top matchups on the road to March Madness and the Final Four.

Spread

• UC San Diego -5.5 (-116)
• Cal State Northridge +5.5 (-104)

Total

• Over 148 (-110)
• Under 148 (-110)

Moneyline

• UC San Diego -265
• Cal State Northridge +225

UC San Diego vs Cal State Northridge Betting Trends

• UC San Diego is 15-5 ATS as a favorite this season, including 7-2 as a road favorite.
• Cal State Northridge is 4-4 ATS as an underdog this season, including 0-1 as a home underdog.
• The Tritons are 3-2 SU & ATS this season when favored by seven or fewer points.
• The Matadors are 4-2 SU & ATS as a single-digit underdog this season, losing at St. Bonaventure to open the season and at home to UC Irvine on January 9.

UC San Diego vs Cal State Northridge Analysis, Prediction, and Picks

Tritons vs Matadors Analysis

Entering tonight’s college basketball games, UC San Diego is one of 27 teams in Division I to rank in the top 50 in both offensive efficiency (50^th) and defensive efficiency (38^th) at KenPom. Of those 27 teams, only Saint Mary’s and VCU are mid-majors, which only serves to highlight even more what kind of season the Tritons are having.

Their acumen on both ends has been on display during their nine-game win streak, which started after an 85-81 loss at UC Riverside on January 18. During the streak, they have scored at a clip of 80.8 points per game and defended at a clip of 60.3 points per game, and the closest win is a 74-63 win at Hawaii on January 30.

The streak also includes a 25-point home win over Cal State Northridge on January 25, which serves as the Matadors’ most recent loss to date. Since being held to a season-low 54 points at LionTree Arena, Northridge has averaged 80.9 points per game and put up 88, 82, and 89 points in home wins over Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Fullerton, and Cal Poly.

The Tritons are a tougher matchup than all three of those teams, but just last week, the Matadors torched UC Irvine—who is 13^th in the nation in defensive efficiency—for 50 second-half points to overturn a three-point halftime deficit on the road.

Tritons vs Matadors Prediction & Picks

Can Northridge topple a top team for a second straight Thursday? UC San Diego is indeed the team to beat in the Big West, led by the trio of Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, who leads the team in scoring (19.8 PPG), rebounding (5.3 RPG), and assists (3.4 APG), Tyler McGhie (16.8 PPG, 40.1% 3PT), and Hayden Gray (11.1 PPG, 42.2% 3PT), who leads the nation in steals at 3.5 per game. That is the kind of trio that can win a game—or more—in March.

However, the Matadors counter with their own talented trio in Marcus Adams Jr. (16.3 PPG), Scotty Washington (14.8 PPG), and Keonte Jones (12.7 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 4.3 APG), who also averages 1.4 blocks per game and 1.9 steals per game.

That trio should keep the Matadors in this one from the opening tip to the final buzzer, even if they fall short of the win.

Take Northridge to cover, as well as the over. And for some extra razzle dazzle, sprinkle a little bit on the ML for the Matadors, who will improve their hopes for a valuable bye through to the Big West tourney semifinals with a win tonight.