Prairie View A&M vs UCLA Prediction College Basketball Picks 12/17/24

The Prairie View Panthers are visiting the UCLA Bruins on Tuesday, December 17th at the Pauley Pavilion. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Prairie View Panthers vs UCLA Bruins Prediction.

UCLA Bruins Preview

The UCLA Bruins have a 9-1 record this season and are coming off a 57-54 win over Arizona. The Bruins are 7-3 against the spread, and 2-8 in over/under while having a 7-0 home record. 

Offensively, UCLA is averaging 75.6 points per game, which ranks 196th in the nation. Defensively, they have the best defense in the nation, allowing 55 points per game. The Bruins shoot 47% from the field (112th) and 33.3% from beyond the arc (202nd). The Bruins shoot 67.7% from the free-throw line (277th) and are grabbing 34.6 rebounds per game (265th).

Tyler Bilodeau leads UCLA in scoring with an average of 13.7 points and a team-high 5.6 rebounds, while Eric Dailey adds 11.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. UCLA will face North Carolina following this game.

Prairie View Panthers Preview

The Prairie View Panthers have a 1-9 record this season and are coming off a 75-76 loss in Loyola Marymount. The Panthers are 5-4 against the spread, and 6-3 in over/under, while having a 0-9 road record this season. 

Offensively, Prairie View is averaging 80 points per game, which is 89th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 95.5 points per game, which is the second-worst in the nation. The Panthers shoot 44.7% from the field (199th) and 32.8% from beyond the arc (223rd). The Panthers shoot 73.9% from the free-throw line (103rd) and are grabbing 28.2 rebounds per game, which is the fourth-worst in the nation.

Nick Anderson leads Prairie View in scoring with an average of 19 points and 4 rebounds, while Tanahj Pettway adds 15.5 points. Prairie View will meet Rice, Oklahoma, Grambling, and Southern after this one.

Why the UCLA Bruins will win

• Prairie View A&M has lost each of its last 15 games against non-conference opponents.
• The home team has won each of Prairie View A&M’s last 11 games.
• Prairie View A&M has lost the first half in 17 of its last 18 night games against non-conference opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Prairie View A&M’s last 12 games have produced a total of 151+ points.
• Thirty of UCLA’s last 31 games against non-AP-ranked opponents at Edwin W. Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescon have produced a total of 148 or fewer points.

Matchup/League Facts

• UCLA ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for opponent points per game this season (55.0).
• UCLA ranks 2nd among Division 1 teams for opponent turnovers per game this season (18.6).
• Prairie View A&M ranks 364th among Division 1 teams for opponent field goal percentage this season (53.8%).
• Prairie View A&M ranks 364th among Division 1 teams for opponent free throws made per game this season (19.7).

Prairie View Panthers vs UCLA Bruins Prediction

UCLA has won all three previous meetings against Prairie View, going for 2-1 against the spread. In this Prairie View Panthers vs UCLA Bruins Prediction, UCLA is coming as -33.5 home favorites. Prairie View is both offensively, scoring 4.4 points more than UCLA, while UCLA is superior defensively, allowing 40.5 points less. The Bruins are winning by an average of 20.6 points per game, while the Panthers are losing by an average of 15.5 points, as both teams’ difference in points allowed is chaotic. This is going to be a blowout win by the home team, so pick the UCLA Bruins and lay the big chalk at home.