The No. 7 UCLA Bruins (17-3, 8-1 Pac-12) and USC Trojans (14-6, 6-3) battle for the City of Angels Thursday. Tip-off from Galen Center in Los Angeles is at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the UCLA vs. USC odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
UCLA is coming off a 58-52 loss at then-No. 11 Arizona Saturday. The Pac-12’s top defensive team (59.8 points per game allowed) had won 14 consecutive games before the loss in Tucson. Thursday’s game at USC will mark the Bruins’ 3rd straight game away from Pauley Pavilion.
The Trojans played UCLA tough in a 60-58 loss at Pauley Pavilion on Jan.5 and are coming off a 77-69 win at Arizona State Saturday. The USC triumph was an upset — the Trojans were 11.5-point underdogs in that game. Southern Cal now returns to home hardwood, where it has won 9 in a row.
Rankings courtesy the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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UCLA at USC odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: UCLA -210 (bet $210 to win $100) | USC +155 (bet $100 to win $155)
- Against the spread (ATS): UCLA -4.5 (-110) | USC +4.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 131.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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UCLA at USC picks and predictions
Prediction
UCLA 69, USC 65
Moneyline
UCLA (-210) will probably emerge victorious, but you should not wager more than 2 times your potential return in what may be a close game.
PASS.
Against the spread
The Trojans are 7-1 ATS across their last 8 games against foes playing .600-ball or better, and the underdog is 4-1 ATS in the previous 5 games in this city series.
Southern Cal is the slight lean with this number. The way the Trojans were handled by Arizona (81-66) on Jan. 19 gives some pause, but USC also acquitted itself well last time out against these Bruins and in previous games against current No. 16 Auburn (74-71, Dec. 18) and current No. 9 Tennessee (73-66 in OT, Nov. 24).
Consider waiting out a Trojans +5 proposition, but USC +4.5 (-110) works as a partial-unit play.
Over/Under
Not much to argue with on the published number, but the Over is worth a watch if the total gets down in the 129-130 range.
PASS.
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