Kentucky vs UCLA 12/17/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds
UCLA Bruins (9-2) vs. Kentucky Wildcats (7-2)
December 17, 2022 5:15 pm EDT
The Line: Kentucky Wildcats +2 / UCLA Bruins -2; Over/Under: +143.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The UCLA Bruins and Kentucky Wildcats meet Saturday in college basketball action at Madison Square Garden. The UCLA Bruins look for their 10th win. The Kentucky Wildcats look for their eighth win.
The UCLA Bruins are averaging 81.8 points on 50.4 percent shooting and allowing 63 points on 43 percent shooting. Jaime Jaquez Jr. is averaging 17.1 points and 5.5 rebounds, while Jaylen Clark is averaging 15.5 points and 6.1 rebounds. Tyger Campbell is the third double-digit scorer and David Singleton is dishing 1.6 assists. The UCLA Bruins are shooting 36.9 percent from beyond the arc and 73.7 percent from the free throw line. The UCLA Bruins are allowing 31 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 31 rebounds per game.
The Kentucky Wildcats are averaging 80.6 points on 46.9 percent shooting and allowing 64.1 points on 38.1 percent shooting. Oscar Tshiebwe is averaging 16.1 points and 13.3 rebounds, while Antonio Reeves is averaging 13.9 points and 2.8 rebounds. Jacob Toppin is the third double-digit scorer and Cason Wallace is dishing 4.3 assists. The Kentucky Wildcats are shooting 39.2 percent from beyond the arc and 68.5 percent from the free throw line. The Kentucky Wildcats are allowing 31.6 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 39.2 rebounds per game.
The Bruins are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games and 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win. The Wildcats are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The over is 7-1 in Bruins last 8 overall. The under is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 overall. The underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
The Kentucky Wildcats are always intriguing in the underdog role, but I’d need more points to consider them here. The UCLA Bruins have been sharper on the offensive side of the ball, and they’re fresh off blasting Maryland on the road. UCLA has simply been the more impressive team up to this point, and the defense has improved over the last week or so. Give me UCLA and the small chalk.
