Pepperdine Waves vs San Diego Toreros Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Thursday January 8 2026
The Pepperdine Waves, who currently hold a 5-12 overall record and are still searching for their first win in conference play with an 0-4 mark in the WCC, are making their way to San Diego, California. There, they’ll take on the San Diego Toreros, who stand at 6-10 for the season and 1-3 in conference matchups. Get involved in the action with our free college basketball picks.
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Pepperdine vs. San Diego Game Information
- January 8, 2026
- 9:30pm EST
- Jenny Craig Pavilion
- ESPN+
San Diego Form & Recent Results
San Diego heads into their next game riding a tough stretch, having lost three straight and four out of their last five matchups. Most recently, the Toreros fell to Santa Clara with a lopsided 98-70 defeat. Despite the loss, Ty-Laur Johnson stood out with an impressive 21 points and 7 assists, while Assane Diop chipped in with 5 rebounds. San Diego did find some success from downtown in that game, hitting 38% of their three-point attempts.
This season, Johnson has been the team’s main scorer, averaging 14.7 points per game, giving the Toreros a consistent offensive spark. Juanse Gorosito has also been a reliable contributor, serving as the team's second-leading scorer and averaging 11.2 points each game. Vuk Boskovic leads the team with an average of 3.8 rebounds per game, doing his part to give the Toreros extra possessions. Johnson is also the team’s top distributor, averaging 3.6 assists this season and continuing to create opportunities for his teammates. However, one of San Diego’s biggest challenges lately has been on the defensive end. Over their last five contests, they’ve allowed opponents to score an average of 82.2 points. At home, the Toreros have managed a 5-4 record while putting up an average of 77.9 points, showing they’re capable of strong performances on their own floor despite the recent slump. As they prepare to host Pepperdine on Thursday night, San Diego is looking to snap out of their funk, avoid dropping to a .500 record at home, and pick up their second win in conference play.
Pepperdine Form & Recent Results
Pepperdine heads into this matchup stuck in a tough stretch, having lost four consecutive games and dropping four out of their last five overall. Their most recent defeat came against Pacific, where the Waves fell 74-69. In that closely contested game, Javon Cooley stood out for Pepperdine, putting up 18 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Styles Phipps also made his presence felt by dishing out 4 assists. Despite making an impressive 93% of their free throws, the Waves struggled with ball control and turned the ball over 11 times.
Javon Cooley has emerged as Pepperdine's leading scorer, averaging 13.4 points per game. Aaron Clark has also played a key role on offense, chipping in with an average of 12.5 points each game. Styles Phipps leads the way for the Waves on the boards, pulling down an average of 6.2 rebounds per game, in addition to being the team’s top playmaker with 5.1 assists per night. Looking at their recent defensive performance, the Waves have had a difficult time keeping opponents off the scoreboard, allowing an average of 77.2 points over their last five contests. Their struggles have been especially noticeable in away games, where they hold a 1-5 record and have surrendered an average of 76 points per outing. Still searching for their first conference win of the season, Pepperdine hopes to turn things around as they travel to San Diego to take on the Toreros. The Waves will be eager to break their current slump and finally notch a victory in conference play.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  The Insiders Room | +1,793.00 |
| 2 |  Tony Karpinski | +1,731.00 |
| 3 |  Jesse Schule | +1,599.00 |
| 4 |  Rob Vinciletti | +1,284.00 |
| 5 |  David Delano | +1,232.00 |
Key Stats
- Pepperdine Waves this season: 43% field goal percentage, 34.4 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 2.5 blocks, 5.7 steals per game
- San Diego Toreros this season: 44% field goal percentage, 30.0 rebounds, 15.3 assists, 3.4 blocks, 8.4 steals per game
Pepperdine vs. San Diego Picks and Prediction
Pepperdine enters this matchup still searching for their first conference win of the season, having fallen short in all four of their conference games so far. Defense has been a persistent issue for the Waves, and it’s something they desperately need to address if they want to get their season back on track. Their next opportunity comes on the road against the San Diego Toreros, who have also struggled on that end of the court lately. San Diego has lost three of their first four conference games, with defensive lapses proving costly. As both teams look to break out of their early-season funk, their defenses will need to step up if they hope to build any positive momentum moving forward. Final Score Prediction, San Diego Toreros win 68-67.
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