The UCLA Bruins take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, NJ. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
UCLA is favored by 3.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -165. The total is set at 139 points.
Here are my UCLA vs. Rutgers predictions and college basketball picks for January 13, 2025.
UCLA vs Rutgers Odds
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 139 -110 / -110 | -165 |
| Rutgers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 139 -110 / -110 | +140 |
- UCLA vs Rutgers spread: UCLA -3.5
- UCLA vs Rutgers over/under: 139 points
- UCLA vs Rutgers moneyline: UCLA -165, Rutgers +140
- UCLA vs Rutgers best bet: UCLA -2 (Play to -3.5)
My UCLA vs Rutgers best bet is on the Bruins spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
UCLA vs Rutgers NCAAB Betting Preview
There's arguably no more disappointing team in college basketball than Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights came into the season with top-25 love and one of the more talented teams in the Big Ten, but they haven't lived up to the hype.
Instead, Rutgers is 8-8 overall (1-4 in the Big Ten) and it's in danger of getting swept during a critical three-game homestand that I said would ultimately define its season.
The Scarlet Knights' highly-touted freshmen — Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper — have been as advertised (although Harper hasn't been 100% as he's recovering from the flu), combining for 39 points per game.
The problem has been the role players, as no one else is averaging even close to double-digits in points.
Now, UCLA hasn't been much better as of late. The Bruins went from a nine-game winning streak and victories over Oregon, UNC and Gonzaga to what seems like rock bottom.
Over the last couple of days, head coach Mick Cronin has called out his team for being "soft" and "delusional" and then he was ejected in a 79-61 loss to Maryland. After the game, the coach ripped the officials and the Big Ten scheduling.
UCLA has lost three straight and four of its last five, and the guard play has been the main reason why. Dylan Andrews, Sebastian Mack, Kobe Johnson and Skyy Clark have struggled — and that's putting it nicely — including combining for just 20 total points against the Terps.
The Bruins remain at a travel disadvantage in this spot — the Scarlet Knights have been sitting at home, while UCLA had to fly to the East Coast before the Maryland game — but I'm going to count on Cronin's team to get right in this one.
The Bruins are more experienced, deeper and strong defensively. I expect that defense to create major problems for Bailey and Harper, as UCLA will dare others to step up and make plays.
And who's stopping Tyler Bilodeau in the post? Wisconsin and Purdue each posted 38 points in the paint versus Rutgers, and I'm expecting Bilodeau to have his way.
Finally, Cronin is angry. His motivation didn't work against Maryland, but I'm surely expecting that to change as the Bruins look to avoid four straight losses.
Also, maybe Trent Perry, a freshman who scored 10 points in 21 minutes against Maryland, can give the Bruins a new look in the backcourt.
Pick: UCLA -2 (Play to -3.5)
