UCLA vs Oregon Odds and Picks
- #25 Oregon is a 3-point favorite versus UCLA on Wednesday, December 23rd (3 pm EST)
- The Ducks enter play winners of six straight
- See below for analysis, odds and a betting prediction
A pair of Pac-12 rivals clash for some afternoon hoops on Wednesday (Dec. 23, 3 pm EST), as #25 Oregon hosts unranked UCLA. The Ducks enter play winners of six straight, while the Bruins are fresh off their second loss of the season at #23 Ohio State.
UCLA vs #25 Oregon Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA Bruins | +3.0 (-115) | OFF | Over 138.5 (-110) |
| Oregon Ducks | -3.0 (-105) | OFF | Under 138.5 (-110) |
Odds taken Dec. 22nd.
Not surprisingly, given their torrid stretch, it’s Oregon who opened up as a 3-point favorite. Since opening the season with a loss versus Mizzou, the Ducks have been perfect straight up, while beating the spread in four of six outings.
Oregon Playing Outstanding Ball
Oregon is undefeated at home in 2020, winning by an average of 21.7 points over four contests. Last time out, they crushed Portland by 39 points, shooting 57% from the field along the way. That victory propelled them to #25 in the AP Top-25, and was highlighted by some impressive defense. The Ducks clamped down on the Pilots attack, limiting them to 12-for-56 from the floor, despite playing their first game without starting center N’Faly Dante (knee).
We're back!#GoDucks #AlwaysUs pic.twitter.com/JWf1bqAWfR
— Oregon Men's Basketball (@OregonMBB) December 21, 2020
They’ve held enemy shooters to a 39% field goal percentage in 2020, and rank 23rd in defensive efficiency by KenPom’s metrics.
The group is led by trio of Seniors, and features three players who average above 12.5 points per game. Forward Eugene Omoruyi and guard Chris Duarte pace the nation’s 19th most efficient offense, that shoots 49% from the field and boasts an average point differential of +13.5.
Bruins Look to Bounce Back
UCLA meanwhile, had its five-game winning streak snapped last Saturday against the Buckeyes. The Bruins controlled the game, winning the turnover, assist and rebounding battle, but still came up 7 points short. The main reason for that was a dismal shooting performance. UCLA shot just 40% from the field, well below its season average, and a dismal 30.8% from 3.
FINAL: Ohio State 77, UCLA 70#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/hXraqSOxDV
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) December 19, 2020
They’ll need a much more efficient shooting effort on Wednesday if they want to hang with the Ducks, and they’ll also need to rekindle their balanced attack. Seven Bruin players average at least 9 points per game, but only three of them eclipsed 8 points versus Ohio State.
UCLA is 1-2 away from home this season, and lost by 21 to Oregon in Eugene last season.
Roll With the Ducks
Winning a conference game on the road is never an easy feat, but it’s been nearly impossible to beat the Ducks on their home floor over the past handful of years. Since 2015, Oregon is 85-7 (92.4%) at home, with an average margin of victory of 16.6 points. They’ve won 24 straight in Eugene, which is tied for the fourth-longest home winning streak in the nation.
Got 'im. @Aaron4PF_ says, "I'm going this way."#GoDucks | #AlwaysUs pic.twitter.com/bZ2XGxqpPR
— Oregon Men's Basketball (@OregonMBB) December 19, 2020
They’re an experienced, well coached team, and while the Bruins depth could potentially cause some problems, I like Oregon to win and cover in this matchup.
The Ducks are 6-3 at home versus UCLA since 2011, and are playing as well as anyone in the Pac-12 at the moment.
Pick: Oregon Ducks -3 (-105)
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
