Published Mar 21, 9:20pm ET by
Gabriel Kozlow - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 21, 9:20pm ET
Updated Mar 21, 9:21pm ET
The UCLA Bruins take on the UConn Huskies in what promises to be an exciting matchup in Philadelphia. The game will be played at Xfinity Mobile Arena and can be viewed on TNT.
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| UCONN HUSKIES | -198 |
| UCLA BRUINS | +164 |
UCLA had a solid season, but it is not widely viewed as a serious March Madness contender this year. The Bruins finished 24-11, with notable wins over Michigan State, Nebraska, and Illinois during the season. They enter this matchup as underdogs, but they still have a legitimate chance to pull off the win.
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Their main offensive weapon is Tyler Bilodeau, who averages 17.6 points per game with highly efficient shooting. Donovan Dent complements him well as the team’s primary playmaker, averaging 7.5 assists per game and 13.4 points per game. UCLA has also won 11 national championships, so the program’s experience could definitely work in its favor.
The UConn Huskies had a successful season, finishing 30-5, despite losing the conference final to St. John’s. They are considered a well-balanced team with strong shooting efficiency. As the No. 2 seed in the East Region, UConn looks like a team capable of making a deep March Madness run.
Tarris Reed Jr. has been their standout player so far, averaging 14.3 points per game, 8.7 rebounds per game, and shooting an impressive 63.5% from the field. Silas Demary has been the team’s main playmaker, averaging 6.2 assists per game and 10.9 points per game as a key second option. UConn has also won five national championships. While that is fewer than UCLA, it is still a major accomplishment.
UConn, the No. 2 seed, enters this game as a 4.5-point favorite in a matchup with a relatively low 136.5 over/under. The moneyline is set at -198 for the Huskies and +164 for the Bruins. Historically, No. 7 seeds upset No. 2 seeds about 30% of the time, which makes UCLA a legitimate threat.
UCLA has beaten several top teams this season, but it has also let a few winnable games slip away. This should be a close matchup, but in the end, we believe the Huskies will advance to the next round.
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Pick
UConn Huskies (-198)
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