UCLA Bruins vs. USC Trojans Best Bets and Predictions
The UCLA Bruins are ranked eighth and have a great opportunity to showcase their great talents when they travel across Los Angeles to visit the USC Trojans in Pac-12 play. It is one of the top NCAA basketball games today. Between a pair of NCAA basketball teams that will likely find themselves in the NCAA Tournament in a few weeks.
The Bruins (17-3, 8-1 Pac-12) are the leaders of the conference college basketball standings by two games over the Utah Utes. But the Trojans (14-6, 6-3) are one of four teams with three league losses waiting for their crosstown rivals to slip up. It is a golden opportunity on the USC NCAAB schedule to make their case for March Madness bets stronger with a victory.
Here is what fans need to know before making a UCLA vs USC prediction.
UCLA Bruins vs. USC Trojans Odds
UCLA Bruins vs. USC Trojans Information
UCLA Bruins vs USC Trojans
Location of the game: Galen Center. Los Angeles, CA.
Date:Thursday, January 26. 9:00 PM ET
How to watch:ESPN2 (Dave Pasch and Bill Walton) and ESPN+.
Last Game Score
UCLA has won the last three meetings between the two teams, which comes after USC had won five straight. The under has hit in all but one of those eight contests. The Trojans are 5-3 against the spread, and the home team has won all but two of the last eight games. It was the Trojans who won both road games.
Furthermore, the teams are 10-10 against each other in the last ten games, so making college basketball picks in this series is sometimes a toss-up.
Thursday will be the 261st meeting between the rivals since 1927-28, when the rivalry began. The Bruins lead the all-time record 146-114. Jaylen Clark hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 15 seconds left to lift UCLA to a home win over the Trojans, 60-58, on Jan. 5. USC overcame a deficit of 18 points at halftime to take the lead with 30 seconds left.
The last UCLA loss came at the Galen Center on Feb. 23, 2022.
Here is a breakdown of each team before a UCLA vs USC prediction.
UCLA Bruins vs. USC Trojan Analysis
Bruins are Strong on the Defensive End
UCLA Bruins stats show they are a top 100 team on both ends of the court but are particularly strong on the defensive end. They are 11th in the country in allowing 59.8 points per game.
The Bruins rank 56th in forcing teams to convert 40.9% of field goal attempts and 27th on the perimeter in making 29.6% of 3-point shots. They are 67th in limiting opponents to 29.0 rebounds per game.
Offensively, the Bruins are 100th in scoring 75.4 points per game. They rank 67th in making 46.7% of field goal attempts and 105th in making 35.4% of 3-point shots.
The Bruins are 172nd at the free throw line, converting 71.6% of attempts. They are 183rd in grabbing 32.2 rebounds per game.
The Bruins have some of the best college basketball players in the country and have so many different ways to beat teams. They returned five of their top 11 players from last season’s team that went 27-8 and made the Sweet 16.
Among them is Jaime Jaquez Jr., a wing at 6 foot 7 who is one of five players in the conference to rank top 10 in scoring (16.1 points per game) and rebounding (7.2 rebounds per game). He is fourth in the league in steals per game (1.75). He is also on the Wooden Award’s midseason watchlist.
Point guard Tyger Campbell is averaging 13.8 points and 4.6 assists per game and is on the watch list for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award after being a finalist a season ago.
The college basketball injury report shows the Bruins are without forward Evan Manjikjan indefinitely due to an arm injury, and guard Amari Bailey is questionable with a foot injury. The Trojans have a clean bill of health.
The Trojans are a Better Defensive Team
The USC Trojans standings have been a grind for a team that is third in the Power Six in total wins over the last three seasons with 73 – only Kansas (83) and Baylor (81) have more. Similarly to their crosstown rivals, the Trojans are a better defensive team.
The Trojans rank 94th in holding teams to 66.4 points per game. They are ninth nationally in forcing teams to make 38.5% of field goal attempts, largely because they have 112 blocks and are 13th in the country in averaging 5.6 blocks per game.
Their perimeter defense is looser, ranking 178th in allowing teams to make 33.3% of 3-point shots. They are 280th in allowing opponents 32.7 rebounds per game.
On the offensive end, the Trojans are 189th in scoring 71.3 points per game. They are 125th in making 45.6% of field goal attempts and 296th in making 31.8% of 3-point shots. They are 151st in making 72.4% of free throw attempts, and they are 148th in grabbing 32.8 rebounds per game.
Boogie Ellis is averaging 15.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game and leads the way alongside Drew Peterson, who averages 14.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.
Odds Breakdown
UCLA Bruins
Moneyline: UCLA -210 – The Bruins are 5-1 straight up on the road.
Spread: UCLA -5.5 (-105) – The Bruins are 7-4 against the spread as favorites and 2-0 when favored by five to seven points, the NCAAB odds show.
Over/Under: Over 131.5 (-110) – The Bruins are 9-11 on overs.
USC Trojans
Moneyline: USC +175 – The Trojans are 9-1 straight up at home.
Spread: USC +5.5 (-115) – The Trojans are 5-3 as underdogs against the spread.
Over/Under: Under 131.5 (-110) – The Trojans are 9-11 on overs.
UCLA Bruins vs. USC Trojan Betting Pick and Prediction
UCLA vs USC prediction betting data shows 63% of people are on the Bruins to cover the spread, and another 63% are on the under. The Bruins are better equipped with talent, and each coach is very good, but the recent road woes in this series are bothersome, including a UCLA loss at Arizona last time out.
Pick 1: USC +5.5 – We don’t think the Trojans will win, but they should be able to keep it close.
Pick 2: Under 131.5 (-115) – This series has a history of going under, so we’ll let the defenses shine again.
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