The UCLA Bruins (5-1) clashes with the Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1) at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the UCLA-Ohio State college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
UCLA vs. Ohio State: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:00 a.m. ET.
- Money line: UCLA -150 (bet $150 to win $100) | Ohio State +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Against the spread/ATS: UCLA -2.5 (-110) | Ohio State +2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 135.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
UCLA vs. Ohio State: Three things to know
- After dropping its first game to a then-unranked, but now-No. 20 San Diego State 73-58, UCLA has rattled off five straight wins and covers, including a 69-60 win as 5-point favorites against Marquette on Dec. 11. If the Bruins can get a victory Saturday, expect to see them in next week’s USA TODAY Sports Men’s College Basketball Poll.
- Ohio State took its first loss of the season at the hands of Big Ten rival Purdue on Dec. 16, 67-60, but pushed against the spread as 7-point underdogs. The Buckeyes played without starter PF E.J. Liddell whose status is questionable heading into UCLA-Ohio State.
- Both teams get up to play in big spots: UCLA is 7-0-1 ATS versus winning teams and Ohio State is 7-2 ATS in its past nine neutral site games.
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UCLA vs. Ohio State: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
UCLA 68, Ohio State 59
Money line (ML)
PASS ON THE MONEY LINE because I am cheap and would rather lay the points with UCLA than pay the extra vig. However, I wouldn’t hate putting UCLA’s money line in a parlay with OSU’s money line at plus-money.
Against the spread (ATS)
UCLA has a higher net in rebounds per game and a much higher net in effective field goal percentage. The Bruins are plus-7.3 in net eFG% and plus-8.9 in net RPG while the Buckeyes are plus-1.4 in net eFG% and a plus-4.2 net RPG.
This is the explanation behind why UCLA performs better against bookmakers’ expectations: The Bruins are 5-1 ATS and Ohio State is 2-3-1 ATS. Also, they both have a below-average strength of schedule. So it’s not like Ohio State backers can use Big Ten is the best basketball conference in the nation as an excuse.
GIMME UCLA -2.5 (-110) for 2 units.
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER 135.5 (-110) is the only play on the total. Each play at a snail’s pace: UCLA plays the 295th-fastest pace, and Ohio State is ranked 299th in pace of play.
UCLA head coach Mick Cronin generally coaches his teams to have a defensive identity, and Ohio State’s offense is mediocre at best; the Buckeyes are ranked 214th in eFG% and 116th in points per game.
Generally, I prefer sides over totals, so personally, I’d hit UCLA ATS a little harder. It is noteworthy that the market prefers the Over and has steamed the total up from a 134-point opener.
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