The No. 9 UCLA Bruins (12-2, 4-1 Pac-12) and Colorado Buffaloes (12-5, 4-3) meet Saturday at the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colo., for a 9 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we look at the UCLA vs. Colorado odds and lines and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
UCLA is on the road for a second straight game after it defeated the Utah Utes 63-58 Thursday. The Bruins have been solid on defense in going 7-1 over their last eight games and holding opposing squads to a 39.3% mark from the floor. The second of those eight games was a 73-61 home win over Colorado.
The Buffaloes are coming off a hard-fought 61-58 home loss to USC Thursday. Colorado led that game for a good chunk of the second half as was up by 2 with under four minutes remaining. CU was in the game on its 3-point shooting (7-for-15); the Buffs shot 25.0% on their 2-point attempts.
UCLA at Colorado odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:50 p.m. ET.
- Money line: UCLA -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Colorado +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
- Against the spread (ATS): UCLA -3.5 (-108) | Colorado +3.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 136.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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UCLA at Colorado odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
UCLA 68, Colorado 66
Money line
UCLA’s backcourt is banged up a bit, and it’s playing the back half of a road trip that started in Salt Lake City Thursday. The Bruins have the edge everywhere it counts — except for the venue, and that’s a key checkmark in Colorado’s favor.
BET the BUFFALOES (+140) as a solid value play at this price point.
Against the spread
Colorado was the beneficiary of a 13.5-point spread last month that it covered and it’s won two in a row ATS versus UCLA — and six of the last nine meetings.
Colorado taking on Pac-12 teams traveling on short rest has been a solid angle in the past. This Buffs team is trending the right way, especially at the defensive end. BACK THE BUFFALOES +3.5 (-112) on a small-to-moderate lean.
Over/Under
A mid-130s total looks solid. PASS.
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