Zayd Hussein

Baylor vs. UCSB Predictions – NCAA Tournament Picks (March 17)

Baylor Bears guard Adam Flagler (10) shoots a free throw against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first half at Ferrell Center.
Image Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

The No. 3 seed Baylor Bears are set to face No. 14 UC Santa Barbara on Friday, Mar. 17. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 pm ET while airing on TNT. Baylor enters this game as 10.5-point favorites with the total set at 142.5. How will this one play out? Let’s dive into the Baylor vs. UCSB predictions below.

Baylor vs. UCSB Odds

  • Spread: Baylor -10.5
  • Total: 142.5

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook. New to DK? Check out our DraftKings Sportsbook Review to find out how to bet $5 to get $200 in bonus bets!

Game Info

  • Date: Friday, Mar. 17
  • Time: 1:30 pm ET
  • Location: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
  • TV: TNT 
  • Stream: March Madness Live

Baylor Betting Trends

  • Bears are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games.
  • Over is 6-2 in Bears last 8 games following a ATS loss.
  • Over is 6-1 in Bears last 7 games following a straight up loss.

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UC Santa Barbara Betting Trends

  • Gauchos are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.
  • Gauchos are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 games overall.
  • Over is 14-2 in Gauchos last 16 overall.

Baylor vs. UCSB Predictions

The Baylor Bears come into tonight’s matchup with some of the same firepower they had the year they won it all. I have Baylor as one of my favorites to win the tourney, with excellent guard play and elite big men they have the perfect recipe to win it all. 

Adam Flagler and L.J. Cryer and their surrounding star teammates are going to steamroll a very suspect UCSB defense. Bridges and Thamba will cement themselves down low and turn into major forces in this game. They should have a significant rebounding edge and will execute on many second-chance opportunities

While USCB shoots it well from downtown, they simply haven’t played a team with the intensity the Baylor Bears bring. I expect them to be hounded defensively and have an extremely tough time finding ways to score in this game. 

Prediction: Baylor -11 | -110 at DraftKings Sportsbook