Defense looks like it will be on display Saturday when Northwestern (22-11) meets UCLA (30-5) with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. The total for this meeting is just 126 at the offshore sportsbooks, with the Bruins right around a -7 point favorite to reach the second weekend of the tournament for a third straight season.
Before Betting on Northwestern vs UCLA
Northwestern has only made the Tournament twice in school history, but they have a win both times after beating Boise State 75-67 on Friday night. The Big Ten Tournament was a bit disappointing for the Wildcats losing 67-65 in OT to red hot Penn State, but Chris Collins’ team brings the nation’s #20 ranked scoring defense (62.3 ppg) into this meeting with UCLA.
The Wildcats will try to keep this game low scoring, but that’s easier said than done with the Bruins boasting the Pac 12 Player of the Year in Jaime Jaquez, Jr. (17.3 ppg). UCLA didn’t need much from Jaquez, Jr. or the rest of the team for that matter as they cruised to an 86-53 win over UNC-Asheville on Thursday.
The Bruins’ task of making a deep run in the tournament gets a bit harder after losing Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Year Jaylen Clark to an Achilles injury recently. They are hoping for better injury news from Freshman of the Year Adem Bona, who has missed the last two games with a torublesome shoulder.
Wildcats vs Bruins NCAAB Offshore Betting Odds
| Offshore Sportsbook | Moneyline | Total | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetOnline | Northwestern (3.70) | UCLA (1.30) | 126 | Northwestern +7.5 (1.87) | UCLA -7.5 (1.95) |
| Bovada | Northwestern (3.75) | UCLA (1.29) | 126 | Northwestern +7 (1.91) | UCLA -7 (1.91) |
| BetUS | Northwestern (3.72) | UCLA (1.30) | 126.5 | Northwestern +7.5 (1.91) | UCLA -7.5 (1.91) |
| SportsBetting.ag | Northwestern (3.70) | UCLA (1.30) | 126 | Northwestern +7.5 (1.87) | UCLA -7.5 (1.95) |
| Pinnacle | Northwestern (3.85) | UCLA (1.29) | 126 | Northwestern +7.5 (1.96) | UCLA -7.5 (1.93) |
| MyBookie | Northwestern (3.44) | UCLA (1.32) | 126.5 | Northwestern +7 (1.91) | UCLA -7 (1.91) |
Northwestern vs UCLA Prediction & Pick
This game could very well see each team score in the 50s or low 60s like oddsmakers expect, but with the way Jaquez, Jr. can light things up for the Bruins and Northwestern also having two very capable scorers in the back court in Boo Buie (17.2) and Chase Audige (14.1) it wouldn’t be a shock to see more points than expected put up here.
