The UCLA Bruins take on the USC Trojans in Los Angeles, CA. Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET on FS1.
USC is favored by 1 point on the spread with a moneyline of -110. The total is set at 138 points.
Here’s my UCLA vs. USC predictions and college basketball picks for January 27, 2025.
UCLA vs USC Prediction
My Pick: USC -108 (Play to -120)
My UCLA vs USC best bet is on the Trojans moneyline, 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 USC Odds, Lines
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1 -115 | 138 -110o / -110u | -110 |
| USC Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1 -105 | 138 -110o / -110u | -110 |
- UCLA vs USC spread: USC -1
- UCLA vs USC over/under: 138 points
- UCLA vs USC moneyline: USC -110, UCLA -110
- UCLA vs USC best bet: USC -108 (Play to -120)
My UCLA vs USC NCAAB Betting Preview
What a weird season it's been for UCLA. The Bruins were 11-2, with wins over Oregon (road), Arizona (neutral) and Gonzaga (neutral), before the calendar flipped to 2025. Then they fell into a massive funk, losing four straight games to drop to 2-4 in the Big Ten.
Suddenly, the Bruins are back on track again, as Mick Cronin's team has won three in a row coming into this game against its rival USC.
The key to the turnaround has been the improved play of Dylan Andrews, who's averaging 10.3 points per game over the last three and hit a big triple to seal a road win against Washington.
Also, 7-foot-3 sophomore Aday Mara has given Cronin and Co. a different dimension, as he dropped 22 points on 7-of-7 shooting vs. Wisconsin and scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds vs. Washington.
But I'm still concerned about the Bruins' inconsistencies, especially in the backcourt. Is Andrews going to continue to play this well? How about Skyy Clark and Sebastian Mack?
Also, now the Bruins have a different problem, as Tyler Bilodeau — their leading scorer — has an injured ankle and is a game-time decision for Monday. Even if he plays, he likely won't be 100%, putting more on the backs of Mara and Eric Dailey Jr.
On the flip side, USC has dangerous guard play under Eric Musselman. Desmond Claude, Chibuzo Agbo and Wesley Yates III form one of the least appreciated trios in the nation.
They proved that in a road win against Illinois (Claude was unstoppable, dropping 31) and at home against Iowa (the trio combined for 64 of 99 total points).
Claude, Agbo and Yates will run circles around Andrews, Clark, Mack and Kobe Johnson. Sure, Johnson is an excellent perimeter defender who's surely capable of containing Claude, but that's where Agbo's shooting and the overall versatility of the Trojans' roster come into play.
Ultimately, I trust USC's guard play — and versatility — way more than UCLA's. Plus, the Trojans are home and Bilodeau is banged up, so this is nice value on Muss Bus' unit.
