USC vs UCLA: Betting Odds, Picks, and Predictions (3/5/22)

USC vs UCLA Betting Odds

Maybe the best cross-town rivalry in all of college sports, the Bruins will host the Trojans on Saturday.

The two-seed in the Pac-12 conference tournament is on the line. Arizona has locked up the top overall seed, but UCLA and USC are tied at 14-5 in conference play.

The Bruins are lucky to get this one at Pauley Pavilion, considering they dropped a game at USC earlier this season. UCLA is 13-1 overall at home this season, with the sole loss being in overtime against Oregon.

So, which team will pull out the higher seed on Saturday?

USC Trojans Odds

USC has had its ups and downs this season. But the Trojans’ most-recent performance was a new low-point.

Hosting the Arizona Wildcats, who were in the middle of a huge road trip, the Trojans put up a measly 51 points and lost by 20. It was a dominant performance by Arizona – who cemented itself as the best team in the conference – and a huge letdown by USC.

So, what’s next?

Well, both the offense and defense have been trending down from an efficiency standpoint – especially over the last 10 games. Guys like Isaiah Mobley and Boogie Ellis have been inconsistent scoring the basketball, and the Trojans have had to rely on Drew Peterson’s shooting to carry the offense.

Peterson is a fine offensive player and a unique offensive talent, but he shouldn’t be the Trojans’ biggest or most efficient star.

The defense is due for some positive regression, specifically at the rim. The interior defense is still the strong point of the team, and if that improves, the whole team will improve with it.

UCLA Bruins Odds

UCLA is tough. The Bruins have an offensive system that works and a defense that will attempt to overpower you physically.

However, I’m a little concerned about the current status of UCLA basketball.

Since dominating Arizona back on Jan. 5, the Bruins have defeated exactly one KenPom top-100 team (Washington State). In that stretch, the Bruins dropped games to Oregon, USC, Arizona State, and Arizona.

That is not a very pretty second-half of the season.

As a result, the Bruins have drifted from being ranked No. 2 in the preseason AP Poll to being somewhere between a four- and a five-seed in the Big Dance.

USC presents some tough matchup issues for the Bruins. The Trojans are tough in the mid-range area and that’s where UCLA will try to initiate its offense. Moreover, the Trojans are just lengthier than the Bruins, which will be tough for an interior-based UCLA offense.

USC has also defeated UCLA in five consecutive meetings. So, either Andy Enfield has Mick Cronin’s number, or the Bruins are about to dominate in a revenge spot like no other.

USC vs UCLA Betting Odds

An eight-point spread is wildly large for this game. UCLA has a very strong home-court advantage, but I’m not sure if it’s that strong.

It’s also worth mentioning that UCLA might be without Johnny Juzang again, who is questionable due to an ankle injury. If he’s ruled out, covering a big spread like this becomes only more complicated.

I also think USC is in a big bounce-back spot after that terrible loss to Arizona. The Trojans will play good defense and fight until the end.

I’ll take the Trojans as a big road dog but would advise not playing this under seven points.