The UCLA Bruins take on the Maryland Terrapins in College Park, MD. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Maryland is favored by 4.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -238. The total is set at 138 points.
Here are my UCLA vs. Maryland predictions and college basketball picks for January 10, 2025.
UCLA vs Maryland Prediction
My Pick: Under 139.5
My UCLA vs Maryland best bet is on the under, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
UCLA vs Maryland Odds, Spread, Pick
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -110 | 138 -110o / -110u | +175 |
| Maryland Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -110 | 138 -110o / -110u | -210 |
- UCLA vs Maryland spread: Maryland -4.5
- UCLA vs Maryland over/under: 138 points
- UCLA vs Maryland moneyline: Maryland -210, UCLA +175
- UCLA vs Maryland best bet: Under 139.5
My UCLA vs Maryland College Basketball Betting Preview
The Bruins have hit a bit of a skid lately, dropping their last two games.
Meanwhile, Kevin Willard’s Terps can make a statement if they pull off the home victory. The Terps are home favorites, but there are legitimate questions about their early-season strength of schedule.
The best betting approach in the matchup is the under. The Terps are 95th in adjusted tempo, but the Bruins rank outside the top 240 in that category.
Mick Cronin’s style is consistent year after year, as he loves to slow the game down and focus on the defensive side of the ball. The Bruins are second in the country in turnovers forced per game, so I’d expect constant ball pressure throughout the contest.
Both teams are in the top 25 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency, but UCLA ranks fifth nationally. The Bruins foul at a high rate, but the Terps rarely go to the free throw line, which should keep the scoring low.
I also like that both offenses don't rely heavily on the 3, so I wouldn’t expect either team to put on a shooting display from deep. Maryland is shooting 37% from deep, but it ranks outside the top 260 in 3-point attempts per game.
I’m unsure if the Terps deserve to be 5-point home favorites, but KenPom projects the spread around that number. The Bruins' offense hasn't been encouraging lately, so I don't think it’s the best spot to back them.
I truly think Cronin’s team will dictate the pace of the game, which should correlate to the total going below the number. I like their size advantage, which may help combat the Terps' excellent ability to crash the boards.
I’d be surprised to see either offense explode Friday night, and both of these defenses have the makings to shut down the opposition.
