Two high profile programs that are off to disappointing starts meet on Saturday, as the UCLA Bruins take on the North Carolina Tar Heels on CBS. The Bruins come into this game at 7-4 and off a bad loss to Notre Dame, while North Carolina is coming off a tough game at Gonzaga. The Bruins already look like a team that is going to struggle to make the NCAA Tournament, while the Tar Heels are trying to tread water until star freshman Cole Anthony returns from injury. Let’s take a look at this matchup and college basketball picks.
Don't miss the hardwood action from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada at 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 21, 2019. Catch every moment of the game live on CBS.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Saturday schedule.
Bruins Struggling on Offense
UCLA is averaging just over 73 points per game which is 162nd in the country. The team is coming off a bad game against Notre Dame in which they shot just 34.9% and missed half of their 20 free throws. Head coach Mike Cronin is well aware of his team’s problem. “Our offense got us beat. Can’t shoot 30 percent from the field, 50 from the foul line.” Cronin said to the media after the game against Notre Dame. “We would have to play a high school team to win with those numbers.”
The good news for UCLA is that they have outrebounded every opponent this season and they are giving up just over 66 points per game. UCLA has a good defense, but unless they find some offense they are going to struggle to be an NCAA Tournament team this season.
Tar Heels Missing Anthony
North Carolina is not the same team without Cole Anthony who will not return until sometime next month. He is averaging 19.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. This is not the NBA and college teams don’t have players who can step in and replace a superstar. Anthony accounts for almost a third of North Carolina’s field goal attempts. The good news is that Anthony’s surgery went well and he should return in about a month.
North Carolina is averaging only 68 points per game and giving up about 66 points per contest. The Tar Heels are an NCAA Tournament team with Anthony in the lineup but without him they are a below average ACC team. The Tar Heels simply don’t have enough offense to beat good teams without Anthony in the lineup. The question in this game is whether or not UCLA is a good team.
Series Notes
These teams met last year and it was North Carolina winning 94-78. The Tar Heels have won each of the last four in this series, with the last win by UCLA coming in 2000.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
When CBS scheduled this game I am sure they were expecting UCLA and North Carolina to be ranked squads. The Bruins are just not that good and it will be a major struggle just for UCLA to make the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels are another story, as they are a very good team with Anthony in the lineup, but without him they are below average. What that means is that this game on Saturday is not a marquee matchup. Both of these teams are struggling on offense so this should be a low scoring game. I will go under the total in this Saturday contest.
College Basketball Pick: UCLA and North Carolina Under the Total
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