College Basketball Odds: UCLA vs. USC prediction, odds, pick, and more

The UCLA Bruins are set to face the USC Trojans this weekend. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our UCLA USC prediction, odds, and pick.

Click here to Bet $5, Win $280 on either team in Super Bowl 56 (56-1 Odds)

*To claim, new users need to register, make a first-time deposit, and then simply place their first real-money wager on FanDuel Sportsbook on any NFL team playing in the NFL Super Bowl to win their matchup. All winning bets will be fulfilled within 72 hours if they win.*

UCLA looked like a Final Four team a few weeks ago after hammering Arizona by 16 points, 75-59. The Bruins’ defense smothered Arizona and created the slow tempo coach Mike Cronin loves. Arizona loves to run and get out in transition, but UCLA wouldn’t allow that to happen. The dominant defensive display marked UCLA as the favorite in the Pac-12, and it seemed that UCLA was in great position to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, putting the Bruins in good position to return to the Final Four after reaching the Big Show last year against Gonzaga.

Then the sands shifted very quickly, for anyone thinking about a UCLA USC prediction.

College basketball odds analysts took note when UCLA not only lost to Arizona in a rematch on Feb. 3, but then came out flat on Feb. 5 and suffered a bad loss at Arizona State. The Sun Devils were 6-13 entering that game, but they outplayed UCLA most of the way, taking an 11-point lead midway through the second half. UCLA rallied to force overtime, but the Bruins could not outplay the Sun Devils in three overtime periods. Arizona State, not UCLA, looked like the tougher and fresher team in overtime. The Sun Devils prevailed after 55 scoreboard-clock minutes. UCLA had tumbled well behind Arizona in the Pac-12 race. The Bruins are now looking like a No. 3 seed in the NCAAs. Their stock has plummeted.

Johnny Juzang has been solid this season, but not the takeover player he was in the NCAA Tournament last year. Jaime Jaquez has not been a bust by any means, but like Juzang, he and the rest of the Bruins don’t have the extra edge they had against Arizona on Jan. 25, or in their March run in 2021. UCLA’s big men are not rising to the standard they need to maintain, and Mick Cronin has had trouble finding the right combinations on the court. If you’re thinking about a UCLA USC prediction, keep your eyes on that part of Saturday’s game.

USC started the season 13-0 but has been 7-4 in its last 11 games. The COVID-19 disrupted schedule has played a part in this downturn, but the main problem for the Trojans is that their 3-point defense has sharply regressed. USC was holding opponents under 28-percent shooting from 3-point range heading into the Stanford game on Jan. 11. Stanford subsequently hit over 40 percent of 3-pointers in two separate wins over USC. Oregon torched the Trojans from long range as well. USC is no longer smothering opponents on the 3-point line. USC’s bench has also not developed to the extent it needs to, creating weaknesses for a team which is not gifted at scoring and must rely on its defense to win.

USC hasn’t yet beaten a high-end opponent this year, something to keep in mind when making a UCLA USC pick. The Trojans played a soft nonconference schedule and fell to Arizona and Oregon. This team has avoided bad losses but has not made a big national splash this season.

Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the UCLA-USC odds:

College Basketball odds: UCLA-USC Odds

UCLA: -2 (-106)

USC: +2 (-114)

Over: 137 (-110)

Under: 137 (-110)

*Watch College Sports LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)

Why UCLA Could Cover the Spread

The Bruins can defend the 3-pointer and USC can’t shoot it. The Trojans’ offense could very easily die in this game.

Why USC Could Cover the Spread

The Bruins have not looked like an elite team for a few weeks. If UCLA doesn’t elevate its level of play, USC will be motivated and hungry enough to prevail.

Final UCLA-USC Prediction & Pick

USC big man Isaiah Mobley will play in this game, but he has a broken nose. If he is ineffective, UCLA gets a big edge. The Bruins have question marks, but USC has even more. UCLA will win.

Final UCLA-USC Pick: UCLA -2