The Alabama State Hornets and the UCLA Bruins meet Wednesday in college basketball action from Pauley Pavilion. Alabama State is 2-9 this season. The Hornets fell to Pepperdine in their last outing. As for the Bruins, they’re 8-1 and coming off a win over Marquette. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Alabama State lost five straight games to start out the season before getting their first victory over North Carolina Central. Another win over Tuskegee followed, then losses to North Alabama, Dayton, Samford and Pepperdine.
In the Pepperdine game, the Hornets had a slim two-point deficit heading into halftime. Alabama State couldn’t keep up from there in an eventual 79-62 loss. Kenny Strawbridge doubled up in that one with 16 points and 11 rebounds, though.
Over on the UCLA side, they won their first five games this year before hitting their first L against Gonzaga on November 23. Since then it’s been wins over UNLV and Colorado, a forfeit versus Washington and a win over Marquette.
Back on Saturday versus Marquette, the Bruins managed 35 points in the first half and 32 more from there in a 67-56 win. Jaime Jaquez topped the team with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Tyger Campbell and Johnny Juzang each notched 12 points apiece as well.
The Bruins are 11-4 ATS in the last 15 overall and the under is 5-0 in their last five overall. The under is 4-0 in UCLA’s last four as a favorite.
Meanwhile, the Hornets are 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games and 0-4 ATS in their last four overall. Alabama State is 1-5 ATS in their last six Wednesday games.
PICK: I’m sticking with UCLA, but staying away from this one. This has “blowout win” written all over it, and the only question will be the margin of victory. I expect the Bruins will hit the gas in the first half, build up a big lead, then let the bench guys mop up the rest of the second-half minutes. Alabama State hasn’t gotten out of the 60s in any of their last four games, and I don’t imagine they will here either. This line’s going to be crazy thick everywhere though, so I’m not messing with it.