The No. 4 seed UCLA Bruins (26-7) are heavily favored (-13.5) to beat the No. 13 seed Akron Zips (24-9) in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at Moda Center. The matchup tips off at 9:50 PM. Here are some insights about this East Regional Region contest for those filling out their brackets.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
UCLA has an 18-14-1 record against the spread so far this season compared to Akron, who is 17-14-0 ATS. The Bruins have hit the over in 17 games, while Zips games have gone over 14 times. The two teams average 145.3 points per game, 16.8 more points than this matchup’s total. UCLA has a 7-3-0 record against the spread while going 7-3 overall over the past 10 games. Akron has gone 7-3-0 against the spread and 8-2 overall in its last 10 contests.
Ahead of this matchup, here’s everything you need to prepare for Thursday’s college basketball action.
Akron at UCLA odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list.
- Spread: UCLA -13.5
- Total: 128.5
- Moneyline: UCLA -1379, Akron +800
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Akron at UCLA odds, spread, & more
Prediction
UCLA 74, Akron 61
Moneyline
- The Bruins have won 25 of the 29 games they were favored on the moneyline this season (86.2%).
- UCLA has won all seven games it has played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -1379 or shorter.
- The implied moneyline probability in this matchup gives the Bruins a 93.2% chance to win.
- The Zips have entered the game as underdogs 11 times this season and won eight, or 72.7%, of those games.
- Akron has not won as an underdog of +800 or more on the moneyline this season in two such games.
- The implied probability of a win by the Zips based on the moneyline is 11.1%.
Against the spread
- The 74.1 points per game the Bruins record are 11.3 more points than the Zips give up (62.8).
- UCLA has a 16-12-1 record against the spread and a 22-6 record overall when scoring more than 62.8 points.
- Akron has an 11-13 record against the spread and an 18-8 record overall when allowing fewer than 74.1 points.
- The Zips’ 71.2 points per game are 8.4 more points than the 62.8 the Bruins give up to opponents.
- When it scores more than 62.8 points, Akron is 14-7 against the spread and 18-5 overall.
- UCLA’s record is 15-7-1 against the spread and 21-2 overall when it gives up fewer than 71.2 points.
- The Bruins have totaled 372 more points than their opponents this season (11.3 per game on average), and the Zips have scored 276 more points than their opponents (8.4 per game).
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Over/Under
- The Bruins have an average implied point total of 75.3 this season, which is 4.3 points higher than their implied total in Thursday’s game (71).
- This season, UCLA has scored more than 71 points in 23 games.
- The 71.7-point average implied total on the season for the Zips is 13.7 more points than the team’s 58-point implied total in this matchup.
- This season, Akron has put up more than 58 points in 25 games.
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