UCLA Bruins vs Kentucky Wildcats Betting Picks & Predictions
UCLA is on the road playing Kentucky at the Madison Square Garden stadium on Saturday, 12/17/2022 @ 5:15pm EST. UCLA -1.5 was the opening favorite and current line is UCLA
Game outlook
UCLA is on the road playing Kentucky at the Madison Square Garden stadium on Saturday, 12/17/2022 @ 5:15pm EST. UCLA -1.5 was the opening favorite and current line is UCLA -2.5.
In Saturda y's CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden, 16th-ranked UCLA will face 13th-ranked Kentucky in a fascinating non-conference matchup. With a 9-2 record coming into this matchup, UCLA is coming off a dominant road win at Maryland. The Wildcats have been off for the past week for school finals, last beating Yale at home a week ago. Opening tap is scheduled for 5:15pm Eastern Standard Time.
Bouncing back for the Bruins
After two lackluster losses to Illinois and Baylor earlier this season, UCLA is now 3-2. The Bruins have won six straight games since then. Last time out, the Bruins blew out the Maryland Terrapins, 87-60, on the road. During the first half, UCLA led by as many as 30 points and finished with a 49-20 advantage. The 27-point win over a ranked opponent was UCLA's largest win over a ranked program since March 2000. Jaylen Clark led the Bruins with 19 points, leading four players in double figures. In the runaway win, David Singleton added 18 points, including 3-0f-4 from long distance, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Adem Bona added 14 points each. In the game, the Bruins defense forced 16 turnovers while committing just four themselves.
The Bruins score 81.8 points per game while allowing just 63. Their overall field goal percentage is 50%, while their three-point shooting percentage is 37%. This season, UCLA is averaging 34 rebounds per game for a +3.2 rebounding differential. The team moves the ball well, averaging 16.5 assists per game and only turning the ball over 9.6 times per game. 17.5 turnovers are forced per game by the Bruins.