UCLA vs Kentucky Odds, Picks and Predictions: Blue Bloods Battle at the Garden

Two college basketball blue bloods will meet for the sixth time in the last eight years on Saturday afternoon, as the 16th-ranked UCLA Bruins and 13th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats face off in the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York.

UCLA has now won six consecutive games and is coming off a dominant 27-point road victory over Maryland. Kentucky has won four straight, including a neutral site win over Michigan across the pond. Which blue blood will continue their winning streak and get a statement win for their March resume? 

Check out our college basketball picks and predictions for the UCLA Bruins and Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, December 17 to find out.

UCLA vs Kentucky best odds

UCLA vs Kentucky picks and predictions

Both teams have a solid mix of experience and youth to make a deep tournament run come March. Of the Top 6 players in minutes per game for the Bruins, three are seniors, one is a junior, and two are freshmen. The Wildcats’ Top 6 in minutes include five seniors and one freshman, however, they also have three other freshmen that average double-digit minutes per game. 

UCLA has certainly found its groove since losing to both Illinois and Baylor in Las Vegas. The Bruins have averaged 83.3 points per game in their six consecutive wins. They love to push the pace and get their points in the fast break and around the basket., ranking fourth in the country in field goals made per game at 32.4. 

The Wildcats will gladly play that game with their struggling half-court offense. Kentucky ranks 27th in the nation in floor percentage, thanks to its ability to score in transition and get to the free-throw line. When a team wants to run with it, that is when it performs at its best. 

Kentucky will also be able to contribute some extra scoring chances with offensive rebounds. The best rebounder in the country and defending NPOY Oscar Tshiebwe is averaging just shy of five offensive boards per game. The Bruins rank 257th in the nation in defensive rebounding, so Oscar should be able to handle things around the glass. 

Kentucky has allowed 81 points per game in its three toughest contests this year, so its defense is still susceptible. Both teams should be able to reach the 70-point mark and the game is likely going to be close enough down the stretch that fouls and overtime are in play if needed. The Over seems like an extremely safe bet here. 

My best bet: Over 140.5 (-110 at PointsBet)

UCLA vs Kentucky spread analysis

The Bruins received a little boost in this spread thanks to their performance on Wednesday night at Maryland. However, that game may have been more of an indictment against Maryland than anything else. Kentucky should probably still be slightly favored here. 

UCLA has already played two neutral site games against ranked opponents and went 0-2 in those contests. The Bruins also lost both of those games against the spread, one as a slight favorite and another as a slight underdog. Meanwhile, Kentucky is 1-1 in its neutral site games, with the one loss coming in double overtime (counting the Gonzaga game as a road game).

Neither team has been great at covering this season, as the Bruins are 6-5 ATS and the Wildcats are 4-5 ATS. 

Kentucky has had some good time to rest with only three games in the past 17 days. The Wildcats will have the fresher legs in what is likely to be an up-and-down fast-paced game. Kentucky can shoot better and rebound better and while it will give up some buckets to UCLA in transition, it will hold its own and get this win in the Garden. 

UCLA vs Kentucky Over/Under analysis

We talked about how good Kentucky’s floor percentage was, but UCLA’s is even better. The Bruins rank fourth in the nation with 54% of their possessions resulting in at least one point. With both teams running the floor and getting points through multiple different methods, each team could easily reach the 80s. 

The Bruins have reached 70 points in all but one of their games this season and are 8-3 to the Over. The Wildcats have reached 70 points in all but two of their games this year. With the total set just above 140 points, it is hard to believe that this game will not go Over.

UCLA vs Kentucky betting trend to know

The Over is 5-0 in the Bruins’ last five games against a team with a winning percentage above .600. Find more College basketball betting trends for UCLA vs. Kentucky.

UCLA vs Kentucky game info

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