UCLA vs Washington Prediction, Picks & Betting Odds for Big Ten Opener

• UCLA is a slight road favorite over Washington in the Big Ten opener for both teams
• Expect a defensive grind with elite shot-blockers Franck Kepnang and Xavier Booker controlling the paint
• See my favorite UCLA vs Washington picks and predictions, plus the latest odds and betting splits

Big Ten conference play opens with the UCLA Bruins (5-2, 0-0 away, 2-5 ATS, 3-4 O/U) visiting the Washington Huskies (5-2, 3-0 home, 3-4 ATS, 2-4-1 O/U) at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle on Wednesday, December 3rd. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 pm PT/11:00 pm ET with the Big Ten Network carrying the broadcast.

Washington and UCLA have identical 5-2 records and are both coming off a neutral-court loss. After falling 80-72 to #69 Cal last Tuesday, UCLA is now 0-2 against top-100 KenPom teams (also losing to #7 Arizona 69-65 in Inglewood), while Washington is 1-2 with a win over #97 Nevada (83-66 neutral) and losses a#29 Baylor (78-69 away) and #66 Colorado (81-68 neutral).

This contest is the first true-road game of the season for a UCLA team that’s 5-0 at home and 0-2 outside of Pauley Pavilion. Will Mick Cronin’s defensive-minded Bruins validate the oddsmakers’ confidence, or can the Huskies leverage their home-court advantage to secure a statement victory?

UCLA vs Washington Picks, Predictions & Best Bets

This Big Ten opener presents a classic contrarian opportunity where situational factors outweigh surface-level metrics. The underlying circumstances heavily favor the home underdog in what projects as a defensive slugfest between two programs still establishing their conference identity.

Moneyline Pick: Washington Huskies (+112) at FanDuel

The Huskies represent exceptional value as plus-money home underdogs, particularly given their immaculate 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS record at Alaska Airlines Arena. UCLA’s untested road credentials become magnified in this hostile conference environment, where the Bruins face their first genuine road test of the campaign. Washington’s superior strength of schedule (0.5269 vs 0.4923) indicates their identical record was earned against more formidable competition, providing crucial context for this matchup.

Sophomore guard Wesley Yates III (16.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.1 APG) has emerged as Washington’s primary offensive catalyst, averaging nearly 17 points per game while shooting a respectable 41.7% from the field and 34.8% from three. His ability to create scoring opportunities becomes paramount in late-game situations where UCLA’s methodical attack – featuring four double-digit scorers led by Tyler Bilodeau (14.8 PPG) and Eric Dailey Jr (12.7 PPG) – often lacks a true go-to option under pressure.

Game-Total Best Bet: Under 143.0 (-110) at BetRivers

Conference play typically introduces heightened defensive intensity, and this matchup screams low-scoring affair given both teams’ elite rim-protection capabilities. Washington’s Franck Kepnang ranks fifth in the Big Ten in total blocks with 18 (2.57 per game), while UCLA counters with Xavier Booker’s impressive 1.86 blocks per contest. Their combined interior presence will force difficult shots and eliminate easy scoring opportunities around the basket.

UCLA’s offensive efficiency faces its sternest test in an unfamiliar environment, where shooting percentages historically decline. The Bruins’ methodical approach under Cronin emphasizes defensive principles over up-tempo scoring, perfectly aligning with Washington’s grind-it-out style.

Expect both squads to emphasize possession-by-possession execution rather than transition opportunities, keeping the final tally comfortably below 143.0 points.

UCLA vs Washington Public Betting Trends

The college basketball public betting data reveal a stark divide between public perception and analytical reality, creating prime fade-the-public opportunities. Sharp money appears to recognize value that casual bettors are overlooking in this Big Ten conference opener.

Public sentiment overwhelmingly favors the road favorite, with 77% of tickets supporting UCLA. More tellingly, the money distribution shows even heavier conviction, as 94% of total handle backs the Bruins to win in Seattle. This massive discrepancy suggests larger wagers are joining the public consensus, creating significant liability for sportsbooks on the favorite.

This lopsided distribution creates textbook contrarian value, particularly when considering the Huskies’ unblemished home performance and UCLA’s road inexperience. The sharp play clearly lies with the plus-money home underdog.

With respect to the total, bettors anticipate an offensive showcase, with 73% of tickets and 70% of money supporting the over. This overwhelming consensus directly contradicts my analysis. The public’s expectation for high-scoring conference play ignores both teams’ elite interior defense and UCLA’s methodical offensive approach.

UCLA vs Washington Betting Odds

The UCLA vs Washington point spread is UCLA -1.5 across the board with only slight variation in odds. On the moneyline, bet365 has the best price on UCLA (-125) while FanDuel has the best price on a Washington victory (+112). The game total ranges from 141.5 (BetMGM) to 143.0 (BetRivers).

For moneyline wagering, a successful $20 bet on Washington (+112) profits $22.40 in profit, while backing UCLA (-125) with the same stake yields a $16.00 profit.

Statistical Breakdown: UCLA vs Washington