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San Diego Toreros vs Pepperdine Waves Picks and Predictions – Wednesday, January 28, 2026
San Diego heads up the coast to Malibu for a West Coast Conference game against Pepperdine on Wednesday night, with tip set for 9:00 PM ET at Firestone Fieldhouse on ESPN+. The market is basically calling this a pick’em with a slight lean to the Toreros, which makes sense. Both teams have had rough seasons, but San Diego has shown a higher offensive ceiling, while Pepperdine’s best moments tend to show up at home.
The betting angle is simple: do you trust San Diego to travel at all, or do you price this closer to Pepperdine’s home comfort level? When the spread is only 1.5, you’re really betting who closes better in a game that could be within one possession late.
San Diego Toreros vs Pepperdine Waves Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should monitor the latest college basketball odds leading into tip for any late movement on the spread or total.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Toreros | -125 | -1.5 (-110) | 150.5 |
| Pepperdine Waves | +105 | +1.5 (-110) | 150.5 |
San Diego Toreros Betting Form
San Diego just lost 85-73 at Santa Clara, but the offense wasn’t dead. They had multiple scorers show up and they were able to generate points even when the game got away from them. That matters here because Pepperdine’s defensive profile has been vulnerable, and the Toreros have enough shooting to create separation if the looks are clean.
The issue is the road. San Diego’s 1-8 away record is the major reason this is only -1.5 instead of something more decisive. For bettors, that’s the real handicap: can they avoid the early turnover stretch, keep defensive effort consistent, and play with the same shot discipline they show at home? In a small spread game, you don’t need a dominant performance. You need 40 minutes without the five-minute meltdown.
If you want the season context and results in one place, their San Diego Toreros stats and results page is the clean reference. The ceiling is there, but the travel volatility is real, and that’s why I treat San Diego as a “spread or pass” team unless the matchup is right.
Pepperdine Waves Betting Form
Pepperdine’s record looks bad, but they’ve been more competitive at Firestone Fieldhouse than they’ve been anywhere else. They also have enough shot-making to punish a defense that relaxes. The Waves just scored 79 in a loss to Washington State, and that’s relevant because it shows they can still get to a respectable number when the pace stays healthy and the shots are falling.
The key for Pepperdine is making this a game where both teams trade buckets rather than a game where San Diego controls shot quality. If Pepperdine can get to the line, limit live-ball turnovers, and hit enough threes to keep the defense honest, they can absolutely win this outright. With the moneyline close to even, this is one of those games where the home team is live if the favorite doesn’t bring full focus.
For their season arc and splits, the Pepperdine Waves schedule and stats page is the quick reference. The home win over Portland is the kind of script they want: close game, enough stops, and timely shot-making late.
San Diego Toreros vs Pepperdine Waves Matchup Breakdown
This comes down to perimeter shot quality and late-game execution. Both teams can score, but the difference is how they score. San Diego’s offense is more stable when they’re moving the ball and creating open threes instead of settling early. Pepperdine is more volatile, but the volatility can work in their favor in a short spread game because a few made threes can flip the script fast.
The total at 150.5 is telling you to expect a decent pace, but not a track meet. If San Diego plays clean and builds a lead, you can see the pace slowing and the game turning into half-court possessions. If Pepperdine is leading or hanging around, the game is more likely to stay possession-rich with quicker shots and more free throws late. That game-state angle is what decides overs and unders in tight lines, and it’s worth keeping in mind when you’re betting totals. The Expert Betting Guide is a good framework for thinking about how pace and late fouling inflate end-game scoring.
San Diego Toreros vs Pepperdine Waves Predictions and Best Bets
I lean San Diego -1.5. The Toreros are the more reliable offense, and in a small spread game I usually want the team that can generate cleaner looks without needing a three-point heater. If San Diego plays a normal game, they should be able to get to the mid-70s, and that’s often enough to win in this matchup.
Pepperdine is live, though, because San Diego’s road profile makes this uncomfortable. If the Toreros have one of those road stretches where the ball gets sticky and they start settling, Pepperdine can steal this with a couple of quick threes and solid free-throw shooting late. That’s why I’m not interested in laying a bigger number, but at -1.5 the price is fair.
On the total, I lean under 150.5. The combined scoring averages point under, and both teams can go through long inefficient stretches. The over needs a game where both teams shoot well and you get a foul-heavy finish. That can happen, but I’d rather bet on the volatility showing up as missed shots and empty trips than as clean offense for 40 minutes.
Best Bet: San Diego Toreros -1.5 (-110)
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re betting the WCC card, the college basketball picks page is the fast way to see where opinions are stacking up across the slate. For more matchup context, the NCAAB previews hub helps you compare game scripts without wasting time.
When you need team-level context quickly, use the college basketball teams hub to jump between profiles. If you’re working on your process and want broader concepts that apply to games like this, the main ScoresAndStats blog and the Expert Betting Guide are both worth keeping open while you handicap.
If you track cappers, keep it performance-based. The best handicappers list is the starting point, the leaderboard keeps results in context, and premium picks is there if you want full-card access. If you’re comparing where to bet and what to trust, the handicappers sites reviews and the sportsbook reviews are useful for filtering noise and making sure you’re not giving away value before the game tips.
