Maryland vs UCLA Betting Preview
Sportsmemo college basketball handicapper JM Sports gives his Maryland vs UCLA predictions tipping off from the XFINITY Center. UCLA rides five straight wins into College Park with Maryland dropping their last two games against tough opponents.
Check out our College Basketball Free Picks page for betting thoughts from some of the country’s top handicappers.
Maryland vs UCLA Betting Odds
Wednesday, December 14 | College Basketball Betting Notes |
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Point Spread: | Maryland Terrapins -1.5 vs UCLA Bruins |
Total: | 141.5 Points |
Game Time: | 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT |
Arena: | XFINITY Center in College Park, MD (Odds Above by DraftKings) |
TV: | FS1 |
Maryland vs UCLA Analysis
Wednesday night’s Maryland vs UCLA clash in College Park features a top-20 matchup between two teams that will be (we think) conference foes in the near future. Sportsmemo college basketball handicapper JM Sports shares his thoughts on tonight’s battle between the Terps and Bruins.
Both teams enter this contest at 8-2, but they are riding different trains on the way in. The Bruins are on a five-game win streak while Maryland has lost back-to-back games against ranked opponents, Wisconsin and Tennessee.
Bruins Barely Any Road Games This Season So Far
We are five weeks into the 2022-23 college basketball season and this will be UCLA’s second true road game of the year.
The Bruins have played two neutral site contests, but this will be the toughest environment that Mick Cronin’s squad has faced this season.
While the Bruins have struggled to defend the two-point shot, they definitely haven’t struggled to score inside. UCLA scores 62.2-percent of its points from two-point range, the seventh-highest percentage in the nation.
If needed, the Bruins are certainly capable of firing away from three point range, too. UCLA has connected on 37-percent of its attempts from deep this season.
Terrapins Tremendous Down Low
Maryland’s offense has been impressive at nearly every level, but one big factor in this game is two-point shooting where the Terrapins have connected on 57-percent as a team (No. 21 in the country).
The Bruins’ defense ranks 261st in the nation allowing the opposition to shoot nearly 53-percent from inside the arc. Maryland’s inside duo of Hakim Hart and Julian Reese are both shooting over 61-percent from two-point range.
On the other side of the court, Maryland’s defense has put up some impressive numbers this season, but they haven’t played an offense as efficient as this Bruins team all year.
Maryland vs UCLA Prediction
Both of these teams feature seasoned veterans, but Maryland is one of the most experienced teams in the country. Most of their lineups consist of all five players with at least three years of experience on the court.
Maryland ranks in the top-30 in defense against both the two and the three-point shots. Not to mention, they have already beat multiple top-40 ranked offenses this season, holding St. Louis to 67 points, Miami (Fla.) to 70 and Illinois to 66.
Maryland held those three teams 10+ points below their average. The Terrapins are 8-2 against the spread this season. Play Maryland.
Prediction: Maryland Terrapins -1.5
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College Basketball Stat Sheet
GoldSheet prepares a daily college basketball stat sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Wednesday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Maryland vs UCLA contest.
Happy Hour Tip-Off Show
Get your daily fix of college hoops betting information with Joe Raineri and a rotating panel of handicapping guests.
The Happy Hour Tip-Off Show will broadcast Monday through Friday at 1:45pm ET / 10:45am PT. Pull up a barstool and join us as we break down tonight’s college basketball card, including possibly this Maryland vs UCLA clash, from a sports betting perspective.
College Basketball Odds Screen
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Track the college basketball point spreads, moneylines, first half lines and betting percentages for all of Thursday’s college basketball games, including this Maryland vs UCLA showdown, from your desktop or phone.
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