It will be a battle between Pac-12 opponents when the Stanford Cardinal (6-8, 0-1 Pac-12) welcome the UCLA Bruins (11-3, 2-0 Pac-12) to Maples Pavilion. The game gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 4, 2018.
The Over/Under (O/U) for the game has been set at 153 points with UCLA opening as a 3.5-point favorite.
UCLA Bruins vs. Stanford Cardinal ATS Prediction
In the Bruins’ last matchup, they blew out the Washington Huskies, 74-53. The Bruins knocked down 25 of their 30 free throws (83.3 percent) and held the Huskies to an effective field goal percentage of 0.294 (below their season average of 0.554). With 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting, Kris Wilkes was the game’s leading scorer.
The Cardinal lost a close one to the California Golden Bears in their last contest, 77-74. California’s turnover percentage was their biggest strength over Stanford. The Golden Bears had a rate of 11.8 (better than their season average of 18.4), while the Cardinal posted a mark of 14.0. Stanford’s Michael Humphrey contributed 15 points and 13 rebounds in the game.
A focal point for the Stanford offense is getting to the free throw line. The Cardinal rank 20th in free throw attempt (FTA) rate (0.307), but UCLA is among the best in the nation at keeping opponents away from the charity stripe (ranking 57th by yielding a FTA rate of 0.188).
UCLA heads into the contest with records of 11-3 straight up (SU) and 6-8 against the spread (ATS). Of the Bruins’ 13 games with betting action, eight have finished over the O/U total.
Meanwhile, Stanford is 6-8 SU and 3-10-1 ATS. Unlike UCLA, Cardinal games have a tendency to finish under the projected point total (64.3 percent).
After the Bruins won the sole contest against the Cardinal last season, 89-75, this will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams. UCLA launched 20 three pointers, making 11 of them (55.0 percent). Stanford was, on the other hand, 5-17 (29.4 percent).
UCLA Bruins at Stanford Cardinal Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – UCLA, ATS Winner – UCLA, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes:
UCLA is 2-3 ATS on the road with 3 overs and 2 unders.
Stanford is 3-6-1 ATS at home with 6 unders, 3 overs and 1 push.
UCLA ranks seventh in blocks allowed per game (1.9) while Stanford ranks 115th (3.9).
The Cardinal rank 165th in three pointers allowed per game (22.8) while the Bruins rank 258th (26.4).
Stanford averages 38.3 rebounds per game, which ranks 73rd in the nation. UCLA ranks 162nd in rebounds allowed per game (35.8).
The Bruins average 6.4 steals per game, which ranks 113th in the nation. The Cardinal rank 152nd in steals allowed per game (7.2).
Bettings Trends:
In their last five games, UCLA is 3-2 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders.
Stanford is 1-3-1 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over over their last five games.
The Bruins’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 6.4, down from 8.3 for the season.
During their last five games, the Cardinal have scored an average of 68.4 points per game (4.5 below their season average) and allowed an average of 69.8 points per game (4.6 below their season average).
