The UCLA Bruins take on the Tennessee Volunteers in the NCAA Tournament. Tip-off is set for 9:40 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV.
Tennessee is favored by 5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -230. The total is set at 131.5 points.
Here are my UCLA vs. Tennessee predictions and college basketball picks for March 22, 2025.
UCLA vs Tennessee Prediction
My Pick: Under 133
My UCLA vs Tennessee best bet is on both teams to go under the total, with the best odds currently available at bet365. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
UCLA vs Tennessee Odds, Lines
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5 -110 | 131.5 -110o / -110u | +190 |
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5 -110 | 131.5 -110o / -110u | -230 |
- UCLA vs Tennessee spread: Tennessee -5
- UCLA vs Tennessee over/under: 131.5 points
- UCLA vs Tennessee moneyline: Tennessee -230, UCLA +190
- UCLA vs Tennessee best bet: Under 133
My UCLA vs Tennessee NCAAB Betting Preview
The Round of 32 is setting up to be sensational with so many high seeds holding serve in the first round.
This matchup between the Vols and Bruins is one of several on Saturday that has the potential to be a phenomenal basketball game.
Tennessee is eyeing its first-ever Final Four and started its road to San Antonio with a win over Wofford.
Meanwhile, UCLA dominated Utah State from start to finish on Thursday night, and Mick Cronin's team is now one win away from another trip to the second weekend.
Both of these teams are elite defensively, each ranking inside the top 15 in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency rankings.
The defensive prowess and physicality of both groups leads me to believe points will be somewhat hard to come by in the half-court.
Tennessee has the personnel to really get up into the Bruins' ball-handlers and apply pressure on the perimeter. It's hard to envision any scenario in which UCLA generates a lot of easy baskets.
As a result, I expect UCLA to have to settle for a lot of contested shots from deep, but this isn't the greatest outside-shooting team to begin with.
When Tennessee has the ball, it'll likely have a few more options, but Cronin has long been one of the best defensive game-planners in America.
Players like Skyy Clark and Sebastian Mack are quick enough to somewhat contain Zakai Zeigler, and I don't think sharpshooters Chaz Lanier and Igor Milicic will get too many clean looks from deep.
Additionally, look for Cronin to want to slow this game down and limit the number of possessions with his team being the clear underdog.
All of these different factors lead me toward the under in this game.
I give Tennessee the edge to get the win and advance, with the spread sitting at 4.5 feeling about right.
Each defense has advantages in certain areas, and the tempo shouldn't be all that quick.
It's always uneasy playing an under in a tournament setting with the possibility of so many fouls down the stretch, but that's the best course of action in this one.
We do have two physical and athletic teams that have defenders who can cover on the perimeter and in the paint.
Give me the under, which sits at 133 as of writing in what should be a really fun one in Lexington.
