The #12 UCLA Bruins (20-5, 12-4 Pac-12) clash with the Oregon Ducks (17-10, 10-6 Pac-12) in a Pac-12 Conference showdown on Thursday. Oregon dropped the Bruins in overtime in their first meeting, leaving Los Angeles with an 84-81 victory.
The Pac-12 showdown tips off at 9:30 p.m. EST inside Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, OR. UCLA is a 3-point road favorite, and the over-under total is currently at 138.5 points.
What to Know – UCLA Bruins
UCLA’s won three in a row and four of its last five contests heading into Thursday’s matchup against Oregon. The Bruins are tied with the USC Trojans for second in the Pac-12, 2.5 games back of the leading Arizona Wildcats. UCLA wraps the regular season with three of their final four games on the road.
The Bruins average 76.6 points per game, second in the Pac-12, while hitting 44.7% of their shots from the field and 35.2% from the 3-point line. UCLA’s defense is third in the conference holding opponents to 64.4 points per game, 40.9% shooting from the floor, and 31.5% shooting from the arc.
UCLA jumped out all over Arizona State, cruising to a 66-52 victory Monday night for its third consecutive victory. Jaylen Clark and Jules Bernard led the Bruins in scoring with 16 points each. Jaime Jaquez Jr. logged his fourth double-double of the season, scoring 13 points and securing ten rebounds.
The Bruins are 13-11-1 against the spread and 4-5 ATS on the road. UCLA is 4-1 ATS over their last five contests but 2-5 ATS in their previous seven road battles.
What to Know – Oregon Ducks
The Ducks sit on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament and could use a key victory to strengthen their resume as the regular season comes to a close. Oregon faces USC on Saturday, so the Ducks have a great opportunity to add two ranked victories to their resume this week.
On offense, the Ducks are fourth in the conference scoring 72.4 points per game, shooting 45.7% of their field goals and 34.0% of their shots from three. Oregon’s defense surrenders 68.0 points per game, seventh in the Pac-12, allowing 43.2% shooting from the floor and 32.1% shooting from deep.
Will Richardson scored 22 points, and Quincy Guerrier added 21 for the Ducks, but it wasn’t enough to overcome an 84-81 defeat to Arizona on Saturday. Oregon shot 45.6% from the field and hit 9-of-26 from deep, but the Ducks’ defense couldn’t get the stops it needed down the stretch. N’Faly Dante poured in 13 points and grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds in the loss.
Oregon is 10-17 ATS this year and 6-9 ATS on its home floor. The Ducks are 1-5 ATS in their last six games and 1-4 ATS over their previous five home contests.
The Pick is In
Oregon needs this victory if they want to have a shot at making the NCAA Tournament. The Ducks have been tough at home, posting an 11-4 mark in Eugene this season. UCLA’s last three losses have come on the road, and the Ducks have the confidence already beating the Bruins once this year.
Betting Pick: Oregon Ducks +3
