Ohio State vs UCLA Odds, Pick
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 133.5 -110o / -110u | +105 |
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 133.5 -110o / -110u | -125 |
The biggest college basketball day of non-conference play showcases a pair of teams that will be league rivals in the Big 10 next season.
The Ohio State Buckeyes face the UCLA Bruins at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, with both teams coming off losses.
Ohio State had its seven-game winning streak snapped by Penn State, while UCLA lost for the third time in five games in a defeat at Villanova.
Here's Ohio State vs UCLA odds and a pick.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Last season was a disaster for Ohio State basketball, as the Buckeyes finished with their first losing record since 2004.
The Buckeyes have turned the tide early this season with wins over Alabama and Minnesota, but the most recent setback may burn for a while.
Ohio State built a 55-37 lead over Penn State with 15:30 minutes remaining in regulation last Saturday, but Penn State rallied to outscore the Buckeyes 46-25 down the stretch for a three-point win as five-point home 'dogs.
Guard Bruce Thornton leads OSU with 18.5 points per game while shooting well from 3-point range (41.8%) and the free-throw line (86.2%). The Buckeyes rank eighth nationally from long distance, connecting on 40% of their 3-point tries.
Chris Holtmann’s squad has put up plenty of points this season, busting the 80-point mark in six consecutive games, resulting in five Overs in this stretch.
Conversely, UCLA has allowed more than 70 points once this season, a 71-69 loss to Marquette.
This will be the second-lowest total that the Buckeyes have seen this season after they finished Under 133.5 in a 76-52 win over Merrimack.
The Buckeyes have failed to cover the spread in three straight games, but Ohio State has posted a solid 7-3 SU and ATS record in neutral-court games since last season.
UCLA Bruins
UCLA has taken care of business against subpar competition this season but needs to pick up a quality win.
The Bruins have five wins, the best being a last-second home victory over UC Riverside.
Mick Cronin's three losses have come against three top-30 teams in Marquette, Gonzaga and Villanova. The Bruins hung with the Golden Eagles in a two-point loss and fell short in a four-point defeat to the Bulldogs (both in Hawaii) before a 65-56 loss to the Wildcats last week.
UCLA was limited to 27 second-half points against Villanova, shooting 36% on 2-point attempts and reaching the charity stripe only six times.
The Bruins have not made more than seven three-pointers in any game this season and rank 351st nationally in percentage of points from long distance (18.9%).
Three Bruins are averaging double-figures scoring, led by freshman Sebastian Mack at 13.6 PPG, although he has been held to just 14 points across his last two.
Ohio State vs. UCLA
Betting Pick & Prediction
The Buckeyes are short favorites in this spot, and they're expected to bounce back after melting down at Penn State.
UCLA has been tested several times this season and fallen short, and traveling back east for a second consecutive week won't be easy for the Bruins.
That said, Ohio State struggled in its last game against a slow-paced team when it lost to Texas A&M in early November.
So, I'm backing UCLA and the points, betting the +2.5 and taking it down to +1.
Pick: UCLA +2.5 | Play to +1
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