UCLA at USC College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/3/2018

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Galen Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UCLA Bruins travel to Galen Center to play the USC Trojans on Saturday, March 3, 2018. The opening line for this game has USC as 5 point favorites.

UCLA heads into this matchup with a mark of 19-10. They currently have a point differential of 5.8 as they are averaging 82.2 points per contest while giving up 76.4 per game. USC has an overall record of 21-9. They are averaging 78.4 points per game and surrendering 70.9, good for a point differential of 7.5.

Valuable UCLA Bruins Betting Trends

The UCLA Bruins are 13-15 against the spread this season

The UCLA Bruins are 17-12 against the over/under this year

Important USC Trojans Betting Trends

The USC Trojans are 19-11 against the spread this season

The USC Trojans are 10-19 against the over/under this year

Key UCLA Bruins Injuries

12/22/17 F Cody Riley Suspension is out for season
12/04/17 G LiAngelo Ball Left Team is out for season
11/08/17 F Jalen Hill Suspension is out for season
02/10/18 C Ikenna Okwarabizie Concussion is out indefinitely

Key USC Trojans Injuries

12/16/17 G De'Anthony Melton Eligibility is out for season
02/16/18 F Bennie Boatwright Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

Aaron Holiday averages 19.6 points per game while playing 37.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 52% while his free throw percentage is at 83%. Kris Wilkes averages 13.8 points per game in 29.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.6 assists per contest and 5.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 66%.

Player Spotlight

Chimezie Metu averages 15.9 points per game while playing 30.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 7.3 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is at 75%. Jordan McLaughlin averages 12.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.8 rebounds per contest and 7.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

UCLA averages 82.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 28th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 5.8 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 102nd. Behind the arc they shoot 38%, which is good for 48th in the country. They average 39.1 rebounds per game and 15.2 assists per game, which ranks them 27th and 84th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 251st with 12.2 per game. The Bruins allow 76.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 276th in Division 1. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 85th and 198th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 36.2 rebounds a game which ranks 252nd and they give up 14.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 248th place in college basketball. They force 11.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 28th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

USC is 69th in the country with 78.4 points per game this year. They are 66th in D-1 in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 7.5. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 49th in college basketball. They are 209th in the nation in rebounding with 34.8 boards per game, and 38th in assists per contest with 16.1. The Trojans are 337th in turnovers per game with 10.7. The Trojans surrender 70.9 points per contest, which ranks them 135th in the country. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 194th and 200th in those defensive statistics. They rank 206th with 13.7 assists allowed per contest and 99th with 33.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Trojans are 209th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.5 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Bruins are 43rd in the nation in offensive rating with 112, and their defensive rating of 104.1 is ranked 222nd. In terms of pace they are 74th in the country with 71.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 79th. As a team they are 66th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 129th in Division 1. UCLA is 305th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 126th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

USC is 334th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 209th in the nation. The Trojans are 34th in the country in offensive rating with 112.6, and their defensive rating of 101.8 is ranked 158th. In terms of pace they are 218th in Division 1 with 69 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 69th. As a team they are 81st in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 200th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's UCLA/USC college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take USC -5

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