Rutgers (8-8) vs UCLA (11-5)
Game Info: Monday, January 13, 2025 at 6:30 pm (Jersey Mikeu2019s Arena)
The Line: Betting Odds: Rutgers +3 — Over/Under: 139.5
The UCLA Bruins and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights meet Monday in college basketball action from the Jersey Mike’s Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a UCLA vs. Rutgers prediction.
UCLA Recap
The UCLA Bruins come into this game looking to bounce back from a 79-61 loss at the hands of Maryland last time out to fall to 11-5 on the year. After this game, UCLA will head home for a game against Iowa.
Bruins Lose Third In A Row
Tyler Bilodeau leads the Bruins in scoring with 14.9 PPG along with 5.1 RPG while Eric Dailey Jr. has 11.3 PPG with 4.5 RPG as the only other double-digit scorer for UCLA up to this point in the year. Sebastian Mack has 9.8 PPG while Dylan Andrews has 7.2 PPG with 2.6 APG and Kobe Johnson chipped in 7.8 PPG with team-highs of 5.8 RPG and 3.4 APG as well as 2 SPG to lead the Bruins in rebounding, assists and steals as well this season. As a team, UCLA is averaging 75 PPG on 46.1% shooting from the field, 33.3% from three, and 69.4% from the foul line this season.
Why the UCLA Bruins will win
- Rutgers has lost nine of its last 10 games against AP-ranked opponents.
- UCLA has won seven of its last eight night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
Rutgers Recap
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights come into this game looking to rebound from a 68-50 loss at the hands of Purdue last time out to fall to 8-8 on the year. After this game, Rutgers will head on the road to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Scarlet Knights Lose Three Straight
Dylan Harper leads the Scarlet Knights in scoring and assists with 20.1 PPG and 4.4 APG along with 5.3 RPG while Ace Bailey has 18.9 PPG and a team-high 7.6 RPG to lead the Scarlet Knights on the glass as the only other double-digit scorer for Rutgers up to this point in the year. Jeremiah Williams also has 7.1 PPG and Lathan Sommerville has 7.3 PPG with 4.1 RPG. Jordan Derkack also added 7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 2.4 APG as well on the year. As a team, Rutgers is averaging 76.4 PPG on 44.5% shooting from the field, 32.6% from three, and 70.1% from the foul line this season.
Why the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will win
- Rutgers has won 24 of its last 26 games at Jersey Mike’s Arena when playing with a rest advantage.
- UCLA has lost four of its last five games.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Rutgers’ last eight games against AP-ranked opponents at Jersey Mike’s Arena have produced a total of 134 or fewer points.
- Twenty-four of UCLA’s last 30 night games against non-AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 136 or fewer points.
UCLA vs. Rutgers Prediction
I’m on the under in this one. Both teams are flat-out struggling, as Mick Cronin is calling out that his Bruins haven’t fixed this team, and Rutgers needs more production outside of Harper and Bailey for this team to really be effective. Both teams find themselves playing low-scoring games right now, and this just feels like a 40-minute slopfest or defensive clinic depending on how you view this game. I’m thinking it’s a first to 65 kind of game if we even make it that high so give me the under with confidence in this one.