UCLA Bruins vs
USC TrojansPredictions & Preview

UCLA Bruins set to face off against USC Trojans in highly anticipated Big Ten Conference showdown at Galen Center

On Monday, January 27, 2025, the UCLA Bruins will face off against the USC Trojans in a Big Ten Conference showdown at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. The two former Pac-12 Conference rivals will meet as members of the Big Ten for the first time. Last season, they split a two-game series, each team winning on the road. UCLA is currently favored to win with a -1.5 point spread that has not changed. Stay tuned for our in-depth UCLA vs. USC prediction and analysis as we provide NCAAB picks for Monday's matchup.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Bruins -114 | Trojans -107
• Spread: Bruins -1.5 (-110) | Trojans +1.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 140.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that UCLA will win straight-up is 53%.

UCLA vs USC Stats

UCLA Bruins

The UCLA Bruins had a rocky start in January with a four-game losing streak but turned things around with a three-game winning streak, defeating Iowa, Wisconsin, and Washington. They recently beat Washington as 5.5-point road favorites, relying on their defense. Despite injuries affecting key players like Tyler Bilodeau, who leads in scoring, the Bruins continue to show strength in defensive stats. Offensively, they have solid shooting percentages but struggle with rebounding. Defensively, they are effective in limiting opponents' field goals but struggle with three-pointers. Overall, the Bruins have a power ranking of 238 and are 14-6 this season.

USC Trojans Analysis

The USC Trojans recently won three of their last four games, including an impressive victory over Nebraska where they limited their opponent to just five 3-pointers. Junior guard Desmond Claude and sophomore guard Wesley Yates III led the team in scoring during this game. Claude is a standout player for the Trojans, averaging 16.3 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game. USC ranks 54th in offensive efficiency and 59th in defensive efficiency, with a NET ranking of 73. The Trojans have an offensive power ranking of 116, averaging 77.05 points per game while shooting well from the field and free throw line. On defense, USC struggles with allowing opponents to shoot well from the field and free throw line, but they excel in rebounding and defensive assists.

UCLA Defensive Woes and USC's Advantage Set the Stage for Competitive Matchup

The defensive performance of the Bruins during conference play has been subpar, with opponents shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc. UCLA's defensive free-throw rate in league play is the lowest at .438, allowing opponents numerous opportunities at the line. This presents an advantage for the Trojans, who excel at drawing fouls. Additionally, the potential absence of the Bruins' leading scorer further increases USC's chances of victory. For the Trojans, their primary challenge will be defending the paint, as they currently rank 17th in the conference in opposing 2-point percentage at 56.9%. UCLA's recent track record against the spread is disappointing, while USC has performed well in covering the spread in their recent games. This sets the stage for a competitive matchup between the two teams.

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