5* NCAAB Game of the Month

Santa Barbara vs. BYU, 12/22/2011 21:00 EDT, Score: 75 - 89

Point Spread: +12/-110 Santa Barbara

Sportsbook: DSI

Result: Loss

5* NCAAB Game of the Month on Cal Santa Barbara +12
UC Santa Barbara is a better team than its 5-4 record leads you to believe. BYU, meanwhile, isn't as good as its 9-3 mark indicates. The Cougars have been getting by without Jimmer Fredette, but they'll wish they had him on the floor tonight. That's because Santa Barbara's Orlando Johnson and James Nunnally are better players than anyone BYU has.

Prior to getting blown out by 20 at Cal, UCSB's only defeats were overtime losses to SDSU and UNLV and a 7-point loss to Washington. Those are 3 quality squads. The Gauchos simply didn't play well against Cal and took it on the chin, but that will motivate them here. Consider that UCSB is 12-2 ATS in its last 14 games following a blowout loss by 20 points or more. It has won by an average score of 67.5 to 62.5 in this spot. It is also 6-0 ATS in its last 6 games after being held to 55 points or less, winning by an average score of 66.6 to 57.7 in this situation.

BYU's 15-point win and cover over Buffalo also plays a part in this inflated line, but keep in mind the Cougars needed 13 3-point makes to get the job done. Teams don't go off like that from deep very often, which is backed up by the fact BYU is 0-7 ATS in its last 7 games after a game where it made 13 or more 3-point shots. Take the points as UCSB gives the Cougars all they want and more.