Long Beach State vs UC Santa Barbara Picks and Predictions for Thursday December 4, 2025

By: Kim Smith Published 12/04/2025, 01:40 AM ET

Long Beach State travels up the coast to Santa Barbara to face UCSB at The Thunderdome, with tipoff at 9:00 PM EST on ESPN+. Long Beach enters at 2–6 but is coming off a win, while UCSB is 6–2 and riding a three-game winning streak. Make sure you check out the full and free college basketball picks.

Long Beach State Preview

Long Beach State is 2–6, but they did just pick up a 76–72 win over San Diego, which might inject some confidence. Still, this team has struggled to close games and defend consistently.

The Beach average 70.1 points per game and allow 75.9. They grab 43 rebounds, share the ball with 12.9 assists, and generate 7.1 steals. The pieces are there for a competitive Big West team, but the execution has wavered, particularly late in games and on the road.

Sykes leads the way with 14.8 points per game on 48.3% shooting and 84.2% at the line. He’s a legitimate scorer, but Long Beach will need multiple players to step up offensively to match UCSB’s balance.

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UC Santa Barbara Preview

UCSB is 6–2 and enters on a three-game win streak, including a tight 74–71 win over Seattle. The Gauchos have been steady at both ends, especially at home, where they’re typically very tough to beat.

Santa Barbara is scoring 80.4 points per game while allowing 71.6. They rebound well with 37.4 boards, dish 14.4 assists, and add 8.0 steals per game. UCSB’s defense is active without over-fouling, and their offense has multiple scoring options that keep the floor spaced.

Little leads the Gauchos with 13.0 points per game, shooting 49.1% from the field and an elite 91.3% from the line. UCSB doesn’t rely on one star; instead, they get production from several players and can adapt to different game scripts.

Long Beach State vs UC Santa Barbara Pick

I’m siding with UC Santa Barbara minus the points. Long Beach has shown occasional flashes, but their defensive profile and late-game execution don’t inspire much trust, especially against a disciplined UCSB group that knows how to manage home games.

The Gauchos should have the edge in structure, depth, and late-possession scoring. Long Beach can hang around with effort on the boards and some shot-making, but over 40 minutes I expect UCSB’s balance and home-court composure to take over. I’m backing UC Santa Barbara to control the tempo and cover at The Thunderdome. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for Long Beach State with the Thrillz promo code. Make the most of your bets on UC Santa Barbara by using the sportsbook promos. Make sure when you place your Long Beach State vs UC Santa Barbara bet you are using the bet365 bonus code.

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