UCLA vs Gonzaga Picks: Bulldogs The Pick To Top Bruins -180 December 28

UCLA won its only game against a ranked team this season on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer on the road against Oregon. Can the Bruins do it again in the West Coast Hoops Showdown on Saturday against Gonzaga?

After not playing each other for four seasons, this will be the fifth matchup between UCLA and Gonzaga since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, with the Bulldogs winning each of the previous four games. UCLA did cover in the most recent meeting, losing 69-65 last season as a 4½-point underdog according to the NCAAB spreads.

The college basketball lines have 14th-ranked Gonzaga as a four-point favorite in this one, which will be played on the home court of the NBA’s LA Clippers. Gonzaga is priced at -180 to win the game outright while No. 22 UCLA offers solid value at +155 to pull off the upset. The over/under has been set at 148 points.

When looking at the college basketball futures odds, Gonzaga is fifth at +1400 in the odds of winning the national title, while UCLA is tied for 16th at +6000 in the championship odds.

UCLA vs Gonzaga Game Information

• Game: UCLA (10-2) vs Gonzaga (9-3)
• Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 28, 4:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
• UCLA vs Gonzaga Live Stream: TBS.com

3 UCLA vs Gonzaga Best Bets

1. Gonzaga -180

Gonzaga has been consistent about its inconsistency when it comes to covering against the college basketball spreads.

After posting a 17-17 ATS record a season ago as the favorite, the Bulldogs have covered in six of the 12 games this season, with Gonzaga being favored in every game.

Two of the three losses for Gonzaga have come in overtime, as the Bulldogs put together a challenging non-conference slate that ends with this game.

When making your college basketball picks, go with Gonzaga at -180 to win the game outright.

Bet On Gonzaga ML (-180) vs UCLA

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2. UCLA vs Gonzaga Over 148 (-110)

The contrasting styles of these teams should make for an interesting game within the game matchup.

Gonzaga is annually among the national leaders in scoring offense. The Bulldogs are third among Division I teams in offensive efficiency according to the Pomeroy basketball database, while UCLA is fourth in defensive efficiency.

Gonzaga averages 11 more points per game than UCLA but also gives up 11 more points.

In the last four meetings, there was an average of 140 points scored in the two games played in the regular season. The two NCAA Tournament matchups had an average of 169 points scored.

Looking at the UCLA vs Gonzaga betting trends, UCLA has covered in two of the last three games against Gonzaga, which went under the spread. The total is set at 148, and we like the game to go over that total.

Bet On UCLA vs Gonzaga Over 148 (-110)

3. Gonzaga’s Graham Ike Top Prop Pick Option

Graham Ike was pretty close to invisible when facing a UConn team playing without starting center Samson Johnson, as he had three points and no rebounds in 12 minutes in the Bulldogs’ 77-71 loss at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 14.

Ike is rocking 😮‍💨

#13 ➡️ 19 pts. & 8 reb pic.twitter.com/iDH0oNukAQ

— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) December 22, 2024

However, he’s had a chance to regain his confidence by going 17-for-24 from the field and 9-of-10 from the foul line in wins over Nicholls and Bucknell.

UCLA does not have the rim protection of some of the recent squads. Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 sophomore, leads the Bruins in blocked shots, but he has played less than 10 minutes against Oregon, Arizona and North Carolina. Perhaps he will get more playing time in this game.

There could be opportunities for Ike to make his presence felt, and he could be a popular choice in the Dec. 28 NCAAB player props.

Bet On UCLA vs Gonzaga player props

UCLA vs Gonzaga Prediction

Gonzaga 78, UCLA 72

Question of the Day

Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.