The USC Trojans host the UCLA Bruins in a chance to make a statement in the Pac-12 race. USC has won three of their last five, losing at home to Stanford and at Arizona while beating Cal and Pacific at home, and beating Arizona State on the road. UCLA spent last week getting some humility in the desert, losing at Arizona by then (not unexpectedly) and then getting upset at Arizona State two nights later. They bounced back on Tuesday night with a nine-point win at Stanford.
Who will prevail in this Pac-12 showdown? Don’t miss our college basketball betting thoughts on Saturday’s game.
NCAA Preview: #12 UCLA at #21 USC (Saturday, February 12)
When: Saturday, February 12, 2022, 10:00 pm ET
Where: Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA
TV: ESPN
Radio: No National Broadcast
Live Stream: Hulu
NCAA Odds: XXXX
Why should you bet on the Bruins?
UCLA has a tough stretch in their schedule right now, wrapping up a four-game road trip. They found their shooting touch again in a win at Stanford. The key for UCLA is their ball security, as they have not committed more than nine turnovers in any game since the middle of January, and getting their three-point game back on point against the Cardinal was a turning point. USC has a hard time with free throws, while UCLA makes their opportunities from the charity stripe with regularity. That sort of differential could end up being the difference.
In the win over Stanford, Johnny Juzang put up 23 points, while Jaime Jaquez Jr chipped in 16. At the start of the second half, the Bruins went on an 11-0 run, establishing a 52-37 lead with 15 minutes left in regulation. Stanford would never get closer than seven before the final buzzer. Tyger Campbell had a dozen points and six assists, and Jules Bernard scored 10. With just six turnovers on the night, UCLA made nothing easy for Stanford.
Why should you put your money on the Trojans?
USC also has elite ball security, which means that this is not a game that will feature much in the way of transition offense…which means that the emphasis will be on the halfcourt offense. UCLA can score from the outside, and they can also pound it into the paint and score. However, USC can rebound, as they lead the Pac-12 with over 41 rebounds per game. This means that, if the Bruins find themselves struggling to shoot again, USC should be able to get a lot of one-and-done possessions.
You’ll want to check the latest injury reports for Isaiah Mobley before you put down a big wager on this game. He missed Tuesday’s game against Pacific, and it took 13 points from Boogie Ellis to key the Trojans in a non-conference game. Pacific led by as many as 13 in the second half, but USC came back, using the strength of three three-balls from freshman Harrison Hornery, who had only scored five points in his entire college basketball career. Drew Peterson and Chevez Goodwin each added a dozen points for the Trojans. To erase that 13-point lead, the Trojans went on a 14-4 run to draw within three with 11:28 remaining in the second half. Drew Peterson gave the Trojans a one-point lead with 5:27 remaining, and USC would not trail after that.
Final Score and Betting Prediction
The injury issues with Mobley and USC’s overall consistency issues make the Bruins a favorite here. If you can get reasonable value on the moneyline, I would go with the Bruins straight up, and if the line is less than six points, I would take UCLA against the spread as well. I predict a final score of UCLA 78, USC 70.
#12 UCLA at #21 USC : Bet the Game Today
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