USC vs. UCLA Betting Odds
Carrie Stroup here with your USC vs. UCLA betting odds courtesy of Sportsbook.ag.
USC TROJANS (11-18) at UCLA BRUINS (18-12)
Sportsbook.ag Line: UCLA -13, Total: 140
The Bruins look to pad their NCAA tournament resume with a home win over a lousy USC team on Wednesday.
USC is coming off of a 70-55 home victory over Washington as a 5-point favorite. The Trojans are now 2-8 SU in their past 10 games, but they have covered in five of those contests. One thing that has been impressive for this team is that it has held its past three opponents to under 42% shooting from the field. If the Trojans can continue to play that type of defense then they will be in a lot more games when the final minutes come around.
Place your 1st bet, get your 2nd bet free
UCLA has now won two straight games after beating Washington State 72-67 as a 15-point road favorite on Sunday. This ATS loss for the Bruins was their first in their past six games. UCLA has dominated USC in this head-to-head series, winning-and-covering in four straight games against the Trojans and going 8-2 SU and 7-3 SU in their past 10 meetings overall. USC has won-and-covered in three of their past seven trips to Pauley Pavilion. They are 4-3 ATS in those games altogether.
As a road underdog this season, the Trojans are just 2-8 SU but an impressive 7-3 ATS. UCLA is 15-2 SU and 10-7 ATS when playing as a favorite this season. The Bruins are also 13-0 SU and 9-4 ATS when playing as a home favorite. G Jordan McLaughlin (Shoulder) is out for the season for USC and F Darion Clark (Knee) is questionable for this game. UCLA is not currently dealing with any injuries.
USC has had issues on both ends of the floor this season, averaging just 66.6 PPG (191st in NCAA) on 41.6% shooting (276th in NCAA) and allowing a miserable 69.9 PPG (271st in NCAA). The Trojans did play a solid game against Washington and will look to carry some momentum into Los Angeles.
F Nikola Jovanovic (12.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG) is the most important player for this USC team. Jovanovic had 16 points (5-for-7 FG), seven rebounds, three assists and a block in the win over Washington on Saturday. The 6-foot-11 forward can score in a number of ways and is impressive with his ability to hit midrange jumpers. He put up 20 points and grabbed five rebounds the last time he faced the Bruins and will need to put up similar numbers this time around. Defensively, he’ll need to do a better job protecting the rim (0.8 BPG) on Wednesday.
Place your 1st bet, get your 2nd bet free
G Katin Reinhardt (12.1 PPG, 1.0 SPG) will also need to come up big for the Trojans in this game. Reinhardt can really shoot well from the outside (36% 3PT), but has struggled recently (2-for-14 in past three games) for this team. Reinhardt had 10 points in 34 minutes the last time he faced UCLA and with G Jordan McLaughlin (12.1 PPG, 4.5 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.5 SPG) out for the season, USC will be even more dependent on the sophomore’s shooting.
G Julian Jacobs (8.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.1 SPG) has been remarkable as a passer recently. Over the past three games, Jacobs is averaging 8.7 APG and he’ll need to continue to find his teammates against a UCLA team that can really score. Jacobs has also rebounded very well for his position, grabbing 7.2 RPG over the past five contests. His toughness and ability to fill up the stat sheet has made things much easier on the Trojans since losing McLaughlin.
G Elijah Stewart (5.3 PPG, 1.2 BPG, 1.0 SPG) had 14 points, nine boards, two blocks and two steals in 29 minutes against Washington Saturday. He is the toughest defender the Trojans have and will need to bring some tenacity on Wednesday.
UCLA has been a very good offensive team this season, averaging 71.0 PPG (86th in NCAA) on 43.3% shooting (189th in NCAA). The Bruins are tough on the glass (38.7 RPG, 18th in NCAA) and can also pass the ball pretty well (13.8 APG, 93rd in NCAA). Defense has been the issue for this team though, allowing 67.7 PPG (215th in NCAA). UCLA must improve on that end of the floor fast because it will need to win a few more games in order to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament.
G Norman Powell (16.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.9 SPG) is the guy that USC will be planning to stop. Powell is averaging 26.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 2.0 SPG in his past two contests and put up 22 points the last time he faced USC. He’s an explosive guard that is extremely tough to stop once he attacks the basket. He’ll create plenty of opportunities for himself at the free-throw line and can also knock down outside shots if the defense plays too far off of him (32% 3PT).
G Bryce Alford (15.2 PPG, 5.1 APG) is another guy that will give the Trojans a ton of issues. Alford is a very good shooter (35% 3PT) and has improved his ability to create his own shot off the dribble. If the defense pays too much attention to Powell than Alford will make his opponent pay for it.
G Isaac Hamilton (10.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.1 APG) is another solid guard in this rotation. Hamilton is averaging 8.0 APG in his past two contests and has a tremendous feel for the game. He is yet another guy who can shoot (36% 3PT) in this backcourt and he’ll look to make some plays offensively in this one.
Fs Kevon Looney (12.3 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 1.3 SPG and 1.0 BPG) and Tony Parker (10.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG) will need to man the paint in this game. Both of them will spend a lot of time covering Jovanovic and they can’t let the big man get it going offensively. Looney is extremely athletic and has the ability to score around the basket and from behind the arc (43% 3PT). He’ll need to use his length to put pressure on USC on both ends of the floor. Meanwhile, Parker has been on a tear for the Bruins. He’s averaging 17.5 PPG and 7.5 RPG over the past two contests and will look to keep it up on Wednesday.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
