It will be a battle between Pac-12 opponents when the UCLA Bruins (8-6, 1-0 Pac-12) welcome the California Golden Bears (5-8, 0-1 Pac-12) to Pauley Pavilion. The game starts at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 5, 2019, and will air on Pac-12 Network.
California Golden Bears at UCLA Bruins Betting Prediction
In the Golden Bears’ last outing, they were beaten by the Yale Bulldogs, 76-59. Yale launched 21 three pointers, making nine of them (42.9 percent), while California was just 2-10 (20.0 percent). Paris Austin was the game’s high scorer with 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting.
The Bruins had no trouble getting past the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons in their last matchup, 96-71. UCLA out-rebounded Purdue Fort Wayne. The Bruins had 13 offensive rebounds and 52 total rebounds, while the Mastodons had six and 28, respectively. Kris Wilkes was the top scorer from either team with 27 points on 11-for-19 shooting from the field.
Contrasting paces will be on display in this battle. UCLA has preferred an up-and-down style of play (60th in possessions per game), while California has been slower-paced (319th in possessions per game). Ball protection should be an advantage for the Golden Bears. They rank 41st at avoiding errors (turnover percentage of 15.9 percent), while the Bruins force the third-fewest turnovers in the NCAA (opponents’ turnover percentage of 14.7 percent).
Wilkes and Moses Brown have played at a high level over the last five games for UCLA. Wilkes has averaged 0 points per game. Not to be outdone, Brown has put up 0 points a game during that span.
After the Bruins won both meetings against the Golden Bears last season, this will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams. In the last contest, UCLA won 70-57. The Bruins made 25 of their 32 free throws (78.1 percent) and had a better effective field goal percentage (0.469 vs. 0.387).
California Golden Bears at UCLA Bruins Betting Pick
Pick: SU Winner – Ucla, ATS Winner – UCLA, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Notes:
UCLA ranks 12th in rebounds per game (42.6) while California ranks 266th (27.9).
The Golden Bears rank 62nd in three pointers allowed per game (20.4) while the Bruins rank 235th (26.6).
UCLA ranks 88th in assists per game (14.9) while California ranks 179th in assists allowed per game (14.8).
The Bruins rank 17th in blocks per game (5.4) while the Golden Bears rank 87th (3.7).
California ranks 19th in steals allowed per game (4.7) while UCLA ranks 87th (6.1).
Bettings Trends:
The Golden Bears’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 2.2, down from 5.2 for the season.
During their last five games, the Bruins have scored an average of 85.8 points per game (8.2 above their season average) and allowed an average of 72.2 points per game (1.1 below their season average).
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