Ohio State vs. UCLA Pick
Will No. 2 UCLA stay unbeaten and roll to a win in Las Vegas when it takes on Ohio State today at 3PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, UCLA is the clear favorite in today’s contest, as the Bruins are getting odds of -9 points against the Buckeyes. The over/under total for the game has been set at 159 points. These two have no recent meetings. They will meet from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
UCLA couldn’t ask for a better start to the 2016-17 season as the Bruins are 11-0 on the year with a win over Kentucky on the road back on Dec. 3. The Bruins are 9-2 against the spread this season as well, covering the spread in eight straight games. UCLA has been an offensive power, averaging 97.9 points per game this season. That ranks second nationally. They lead the country in assists at 24.2 per game. They also are the nation’s top-shooting team, making 56 percent of their shots. TJ Leaf is averaging 18.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game to lead the team this year while Isaac Hamilton is putting up 17.3 points per game. UCLA does have some injuries, as Thomas Welsh is questionable with a knee issue. He averages 11.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game this year.
Ohio State is 8-2 on the season and coming off a 64-60 win over Connecticut last week. The Buckeyes are 3-6 against the spread this year, having failed to cover in their last two games. Ohio State is averaging 74.6 points per game on offense this year while the defense is giving up only 61.7 points per contest. Jae’Sean Tate is averaging 13.9 points per game to lead the team while four others are scoring in double figures as well. Trevor Thompson averages 11 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
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While Ohio State has had just two losses that were only by 2 points each, the Buckeyes are stepping into deep waters today against a UCLA team that has too much talent on offense. Though the Bruins tend to give up points because of their style, they certainly make up for it on offense. The game is on a “neutral” court, but it should still favor UCLA and I think the Bruins win by double digits.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL DAILY PREDICTION: UCLA -9