The UCLA Bruins have fallen behind in the race for the Pac-12 crown with a loss last time out to Arizona, and may need to be flawless down the stretch to make up the ground. Their next game is another tough one as they go across town to face off against the USC Trojans.
USC went undefeated in non-conference action but is just .500 in the Pac-12 slate and hopes to pick up a marquee upset of the Bruins to bolster their March Madness resume. Even on the road, UCLA will surely be the favorite in this matchup.
Don't miss the hardwood action from the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California at 11 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 25, 2017. Catch every moment of the game live on FS1.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Wednesday schedule.
Odds at BookMaker.eu
UCLA is 19-2 straight up and 12-9 against the spread. The Bruins have played five road games and have covered in two of them. UCLA has been the favorite in all but one game it has played this season and has covered in 11 of those 20 outings.
USC is 17-4 straight up and 9-11 against the spread. The Trojans have played 12 home games this season and covered in half of them. USC has been the underdog five times this year and covered twice in those games.
Player to Watch
Lonzo Ball - The UCLA guard isn’t an elite scorer but he does so many things well and the Trojans are really going to have to keep an eye on him throughout the contest.
Ball is averaging 14.9 points, 8.2 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game and is in the middle of everything UCLA does so well. The Bruins have lost to Oregon and now Arizona in Pac-12 play but has an elite cast of players, led by Ball.
He had 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds in the loss to the Wildcats but didn’t get enough help. That hasn’t usually been a problem this season and UCLA should be able to bounce back behind their playmaker.
Key Stat
14. That’s how many wins in a row USC reeled off to begin the season, but the Trojans have faltered as the competition has gotten tougher. They moved into the national rankings with the hot start, even though most of the opponents weren’t very good.
USC lost its first game to Oregon in blowout fashion and has since been knocked off by Cal, Utah and Arizona. The Trojans enter this one off a win against Arizona State, but that was only by three points. While USC had one of the longest undefeated streaks in the nation, it clearly isn’t as good as that early stretch suggested.
USC is still in good shape to make the NCAA men’s basketball tournament but could cement its spot with a few big wins down the stretch, and this would certainly lead that category if it beats UCLA.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
UCLA is still an elite team despite the recent loss, while USC is more middle of the pack. This game will be played inside the Trojans’ home arena, but the team gets little support and there won’t be much of a home court noise advantage,
The Bruins have a sense or urgency now that they trail both Oregon and Arizona by two games in the loss column and are still shooting for a No. 1 seed in March Madness. The only question in this one will be which team covers, because UCLA is going to win. The Bruins will likely overwhelm USC with their pace and pick up a relatively easy victory.
College Basketball Odds: UCLA 91, USC 80
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