UCLA vs Minnesota Prediction 2/18/25 College Basketball Picks Today

In this article, we will formulate a UCLA vs Minnesota Prediction for this college basketball game on Tuesday,  February 18th, at the Pauley Pavillion. Let’s take a look at a UCLA Bruins vs Minnesota Golden Gophers pick. 

Minnesota Keeps Fighting

Minnesota hasn’t had the best season, but they have kept fighting, and have had a couple of surprising wins. On Saturday, the Golden Gophers went on the road, and they were able to knock off the USC Trojans 69-66. At halftime, they were down 38-29, but they fought back in the second half and were able to win. Minnesota shot 43.9 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from behind the three-point line. Lu’Cye Patterson has been playing really well, and he scored 25 points, three rebounds, and two assists. The most impressive part of the win was that Dawson Garcia, Minnesota’s best player had only seven points. 

Minnesota sits with a 12-12 record overall and they have gone 7-15-2 against the spread. Away from home this season they have gone 2-4 straight up. The Gophers are averaging 69 points while their defense is giving up 69.6 points per game. The offense is ranked 300th in the league while the defense is ranked 112th. Garcia has been the best player, and he’s averaging 19.2 points while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from behind the three-point line. 

UCLA Coming Off Solid Win

UCLA, two games ago against Illinois, was knocked off, but they bounced back in a big way in the last game. UCLA faced off against Indiana on the road and they scored 72 points on the way to the four-point victory. In the second half, the defense gave up 43 points, but they still held on for the win. Tyler Bildeau had a strong game putting up 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists. There were three different players that put up at least 10 points. In this game, UCLA is going to need to have a balanced attack. 

UCLA comes into this game with an 18-7 record overall and they have gone 14-10-1 against the spread. At home this season they have gone 13-1 straight up. UCLA is averaging 75.5 points while their defense is giving up 64.8 points per game. The offense is ranked 138th in the league while the defense is ranked 23rd. Tyler Bilodeau is averaging 14.2 points while shooting 50 percent from the field. UCLA will take on Ohio State and Purdue after this game. 

Why UCLA Will Beat Minnesota

• UCLA has won each of its last 10 night games at Edwin W. Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescon against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Minnesota has lost 11 of its last 14 night games against Conference opponents.
• Minnesota has lost the first half in each of its last five games against Conference opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Minnesota’s last eight night games against non-AP-ranked opponents has produced a total of 130+ points.
• Seven of UCLA’s last eight night games against non-AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 140+ points.

UCLA vs Minnesota Prediction

Minnesota is coming off a big win against the USC Trojans, but right when you start to trust them, they fall off, and that’s exactly what is going to happen again here. Minnesota is averaging 69 points per game, but UCLA’s defense is going to step up in a big way here. UCLA will find a way to slow down Darson Garcia here. Minnesota’s defense will have no answer, and UCLA is going to cruise here.