The UCLA Bruins (7-3) will travel to Fifth Third Arena to clash against the Cincinnati Bearcats (9-2). The game can be seen on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 19, 2018.
UCLA Bruins vs. Cincinnati Bearcats ATS Odds
In their last outing, the Bearcats lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 64-56, while the Bruins dismantled the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons, 96-71.
The Bruins had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (37.1 vs. 13.3) and had a much better effective field goal percentage (0.595 vs. 0.430). Cincinnati, on the other hand, had a much better turnover percentage (12.3 vs. 18.7). Cincinnati’s Jarron Cumberland had a good outing, recording 22 points. Kris Wilkes, meanwhile played a pivotal role for UCLA with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bearcats won the only contest between these two teams last season, 77-63. Cincinnati’s 0.259 free throw rate was their biggest strength over UCLA, who had a rate of 0.107. This will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams.
The Bruins’ Wilkes has been playing well over his last five games, averaging 0 points per game. Meanwhile, Cumberland has averaged 0 points during that same time frame for the Bearcats.
Cincinnati figures to have the edge on the defensive side of the ball. The Bearcats currently rank 50th in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.460), while UCLA is 156th in effective field goal percentage (0.522). It will also be a showdown of opposite tempos as the up-tempo Bruins rank 42nd in possessions per game, while the more half-court oriented Bearcats rank 346th.
UCLA at Cincinnati Free Pick
Pick: SU Winner – Cincinnati, ATS Winner – UCLA, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- Cincinnati ranks seventh in rebounds allowed per game (29.0) while UCLA ranks 198th (37.5).
- The Bearcats allow the ninth-fewest steals per game (4.5) while the Bruins rank 55th (5.7).
- UCLA averages 5.6 blocks per game, which is ranked 12th in the country. Cincinnati ranks 48th in blocks allowed per game (2.8).
- The Bearcats rank 15th in assists allowed per game (9.7) while the Bruins rank 175th (14.7).
- Cincinnati ranks 111th in three pointers allowed per game (22.0) while UCLA ranks 246th (28.3).
Bettings Trends:
- The Bearcats’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 13.4, down from 14.4 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Bruins have scored an average of 85.8 points per game (5.2 above their season average) and allowed an average of 72.2 points per game (1.2 above their season average).
