Number 18 UCLA and unranked North Carolina both head to New York to face each other on Saturday afternoon. The game is at 3:00 PM ET on CBS and Paramount+. Can UCLA cover the 1.5-point spread as neutral-site favorites? Keep reading for our UCLA vs. North Carolina prediction.
The UCLA Bruins are 10-1 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 8-3 ATS this season.
The North Carolina Tar Heels are 6-5 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 4-7 ATS this season.
UCLA vs. North Carolina Matchup & Betting Odds
629 UCLA Bruins (-1.5) vs. 630 North Carolina Tar Heels (+1.5); o/u 150.5
3:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, December 21, 2024
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: CBS/Paramount+
UCLA vs. North Carolina Public Betting Information
Our CBB Public Betting Information page indicates that 66% of public bettors are currently backing UCLA when it comes to the spread. This information is subject to change throughout the day, however, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
UCLA Bruins Game Notes
Bruins guard Dylan Andrews was tremendous in his team’s 111-75 win over Prairie View A&M on Tuesday night. The 6’2” junior racked up 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists in 32 minutes. Andrews shot 8 of 12 from the field and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc in the victory.
UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau also played well in his team’s game on Tuesday. The Oregon State transfer recorded 18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal, a block, and a made three-pointer. Bilodeau is averaging a team-high 14.1 points per game on the campaign.
North Carolina Tar Heels Game Notes
Tar Heels guard RJ Davis had a big scoring night in his team’s 90-84 loss to Florida on Tuesday. The 6’2” senior from White Plains, NY registered 29 points, 8 rebounds, an assist, 4 steals, and 3 made three-pointers. Davis shot 10 of 19 from the field and 6 of 7 from the foul line in the defeat.
North Carolina guard Seth Trimble had a solid game in his team’s loss on Tuesday. The junior from Menomonee Falls, WI accumulated 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals across 34 minutes. Trimble is second on the team in scoring with 15.0 points per game this season.
UCLA vs. North Carolina CBB Betting Trends
UCLA is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
The Bruins are 13-11-1 ATS when playing an opponent on equal rest since the start of last season.
North Carolina is 15-19-1 ATS in non-conference games since the start of the 2022 season.
North Carolina is 8-14-1 ATS in neutral-site games since the start of the 2022 season.
UCLA vs. North Carolina CBB Prediction:
This could be a tough year for the Tar Heels. North Carolina has already played three top-10 teams this season. They are 0-3 straight up and 0-3 against the spread in those games, which were against Auburn, Alabama, and Florida. The concerning thing about those losses was that they came by an average of 11.3 points per game.
UCLA might not be ranked in the top 10 this season, but they’re 13th in the nation in adjusted efficiency margin according to Kenpom.com. The Bruins are also 8th in the nation with an average scoring margin of +22.0 points per game. A few other numbers should make the case for UCLA in this neutral-site New York City showdown. The Bruins are 5-2-1 ATS in neutral-site games and 16-8-1 ATS after a win since the start of last season. I think UCLA has shown they are the better team, so that’s why I’m picking them in this matchup. I’m laying the points with the Bruins in MSG on Saturday.