UCLA vs Kentucky Betting Odds, Trends, & Free Pick [3/24/17]

By
Jay Cooper
-

[corner-ad id=1]UCLA (31-4) vs Kentucky (31-5)
When: Friday, March 24th 2017
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN
Time: 9:39 ET | TV: CBS

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For the sixth time in the last eight seasons, the Kentucky Wildcats will be playing in the Sweet 16 under head coach John Calipari, but they’ll be up against a UCLA Bruins team that has their number in the last two matchups. UCLA defeated Kentucky in December 2015 and again in 2016, each time when the Wildcats were ranked No. 1 in the coaches’ poll. The Bruins used a balanced scoring attack and got high-percentage shots from their starting five in the latest victory over Kentucky. UCLA’s five starters scored from 14 to 19 points and Aaron Holiday contributed 13 off the bench in the 97-92 win in December. Bruins freshman point guard Lonzo Ball is coming off an impressive showing in UCLA’s second round win last weekend. Ball had 18 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and one turnover in the 79-67 victory Sunday against Cincinnati, shooting 7-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-7 from 3-point range. He had 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the first meeting with the Wildcats as a young freshman. UCLA enters the Sweet 16 leading the nation in points per game (90.2), field goal percentage (52.1), assists (21.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.93) and they are fourth in 3-point percentage (40.6).

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The Wildcats are led by freshmen guards Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox, who each had big games in the earlier meeting against the Bruins. Monk, who averages 20 points, scored 24 in December, and Fox, who averages 16.1, scored 20. Another freshman, 6’10” forward Bam Adebayo, had a double-double in the earlier meeting and will be matched up with big man T.J. Leaf of UCLA. Isaiah Briscoe is the third starting guard for the Wildcats and is the best rebounder in the backcourt, posting four double-doubles this season and ranking second on the team at 5.4 rebounds. The Wildcats enter the Sweet 16 with 13 wins in a row, but failed to cover the spread in the first two games of the NCAA Tournament thus far. They only beat Northern Kentucky by nine, then fought off a tough Wichita State team 65-62. Kentucky shot only 41.8% from the field against the Shockers – down from their season average of 47.4% – which ranks 40th in the country. Defensively, the Wildcats can protect the perimeter, holding opponents to a 11th-best 30.5% three-point shooting percentage.

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Kentucky may be hot, but this UCLA team has only lost one game since the end of January and that was to Arizona in the Pac-12 Championship Game. The Bruins have beaten Kentucky twice the last two years and I think they’ll be even better on a neutral floor. Look for Ball to have another impressive outing and for UCLA to move on.

Pick: UCLA PK

ATS TRENDS

UCLA
  • Bruins are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games.
  • Bruins are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games as an underdog of 0.5-6.5.
  • Bruins are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
  • Bruins are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
  • Bruins are 7-20 ATS in their last 27 neutral site games as an underdog.
  • Bruins are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog of 0.5-6.5.
  • Bruins are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 vs. Southeastern.
  • Bruins are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
  • Bruins are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
  • Bruins are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
Kentucky
  • Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
  • Wildcats are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
  • Wildcats are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.
  • Wildcats are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 neutral site games as a favorite.
  • Wildcats are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 neutral site games.
  • Wildcats are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
  • Wildcats are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.
  • Wildcats are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games.
  • Wildcats are 0-3-2 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.

OU TRENDS

UCLA
  • Under is 4-0 in Bruins last 4 games following a ATS win.
  • Over is 7-1 in Bruins last 8 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog of 0.5-6.5.
  • Under is 6-1 in Bruins last 7 games following a straight up win.
  • Under is 5-1 in Bruins last 6 games as an underdog of 0.5-6.5.
  • Over is 7-2 in Bruins last 9 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
  • Under is 9-3 in Bruins last 12 overall.
  • Under is 3-1-1 in Bruins last 5 non-conference games.
  • Over is 6-2 in Bruins last 8 Friday games.
  • Under is 5-2 in Bruins last 7 neutral site games.
  • Under is 19-8 in Bruins last 27 games as an underdog.
Kentucky
  • Under is 6-0 in Wildcats last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
  • Under is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 non-conference games.
  • Under is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.
  • Under is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.
  • Under is 4-0 in Wildcats last 4 NCAA Tournament games.
  • Under is 8-1 in Wildcats last 9 overall.
  • Under is 8-1 in Wildcats last 9 games as a favorite.
  • Under is 12-2 in Wildcats last 14 games following a straight up win.
  • Under is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 neutral site games as a favorite.
  • Under is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 neutral site games.
  • Over is 6-2 in Wildcats last 8 Friday games.
  • Under is 10-4-1 in Wildcats last 15 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.

HEAD TO HEAD

  • Bruins are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

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