Cal State Northridge Matadors vs UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Picks and Predictions for Thursday, February 19, 2026
Use Code WWWC The Cal State Northridge Matadors will be on the road Thursday night for a 9:00 PM match-up in Santa Barbara, CA, against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, and we have you ready to roll with our Cal State Northridge vs UC Santa Barbara prediction. Cal State Northridge comes into this matchup with sixteen wins and 10 losses this season. The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos have seventeen wins and 9 losses this season. Cal State Northridge comes into this matchup as one of the hottest teams in the Big West, riding a lengthy winning streak following a 24-point home victory against Hawaii over the weekend. UC Santa Barbara has won three of the last five, following a 10-point loss in their last game. Read more about this Cal State Northridge vs UC Santa Barbara prediction! Struggling with handicapping? Try our NCAAB Predictions!
Cal State Northridge tries to keep it rolling
The Cal State Northridge offense has carried the team this season, averaging 82 points on 46% shooting. Defensively, the Matadors have been top-tier as well, holding opponents to 79 points per game through 26 games. Offensively, Cal State Northridge was the better team in their last outing, scoring 84 points on 53% shooting and knocking down 9 triples in the game. Defensively, Cal State Northridge did the job, giving up 60 points on 36% shooting. The Matadors lost the rebounding battle by two but forced 18 turnovers in the win. Larry Hughes II led the way for the Cal State Northridge offense with 27 points on 14 shots.
Larry Hughes II leads the Cal State Northridge offense this season, averaging 19 points per game. Josiah Davis is second on the roster with 13.9 points to go along with the team’s leading 7.2 assists. Joshua O’Garro averages 13.7 points and leads the team, pulling in 9.6 rebounds per game. Mahmoud Fofana is 4th on the team with 11.5 points and just under 29 minutes per game.
Key Injury Report for Cal State Northridge:
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- None
UC Santa Barbara looks for a home win
Offensively, UC Santa Barbara has scored the ball well this season, averaging 79.2 points on 40% shooting from the floor. Defensively, the Gauchos have allowed 73 points per game this season, but have given up an average of 87 points per game over their last two losses. Offensively, UC Santa Barbara scored well in their last outing, pouring in 79 points on 44% shooting and knocking down 13 3-pointers. Defensively, UC Santa Barbara was outmatched, allowing 89 points, including 52 in the second half, and blew a nine-point halftime lead as Cal Poly shot 53% from the floor. The Gauchos lost the rebounding battle by 4 and turned the ball over 8 times. Zion Sensely led the way for the UC Santa Barbara offense in their last outing with 21 points and 9 rebounds on 16 shots.
Aiden Mahaney leads the UC Santa Barbara offense this season, averaging 15 points and 2.8 assists per game. CJ Shaw is second on the team, averaging 12.2 points, while Miro Little averages 12 points per game. Zion Zensely averages 11.2 points, good enough for 5th on the team, and leads the way, pulling in 7.6 rebounds per game.
Key Injury Report for UC Santa Barbara:
- Miro Little (Questionable) – Undisclosed
- Jason Fontenet II (Out) - Knee
Cal State Northridge vs UC Santa Barbara Pick
- Cal State Northridge vs UC Santa Barbara Spread Pick
Both teams are playing good basketball this season, and coming into this matchup, each team is well above 500. Cal State Northridge, however, is the better overall team, with a stronger offense. The Matadors are red hot coming into this game and will continue that trend Thursday night. Take Cal State Northridge to do the job as they get the win and cover on the road against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
- Cal State Northridge vs UC Santa Barbara Over/Under Pick
Both teams score well, and each has struggled defensively lately. Look for a high-scoring showcase as each team is pursuing the top spot in the conference. Both teams will score in bunches Thursday night as each looks to get out and run and execute their game plans. Take the over Thursday night as the Cal State Northridge Matadors get the win and cover on the road against UC Santa Barbara.
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