UCLA vs. Tennessee odds, prediction
It’s fair to say that we just don’t know how good this UCLA Bruins team is this season.
Faced with a ridiculous schedule thanks to their move to the Big Ten, Mick Cronin’s club looked to be in serious jeopardy of falling apart thanks to a 1-5 skid during the holidays.
Instead of wilting, the Bruins turned things around with a seven-game winning streak as part of an 11-3 stretch to close out the regular season.
UCLA bowed out quickly in the Big Ten Tournament, but their place in the Big Dance was already secured and they put together a statement win over No. 10 Utah State in Round 1.
The Bruins now turn their attention to No. 2 Tennessee in Saturday’s nightcap. The Vols are a 4.5-point favorite at Caesars Sportsbook.
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UCLA vs. Tennessee betting preview
The Volunteers were not under much duress in a 15-point win against Wofford on Thursday, but there are some concerning signals for Tennessee in this contest.
The most glaring red flag is the fatigue factor.
Tennessee made it to the SEC Championship on Sunday, meaning this will be the fifth high-stakes game for the Vols in eight days.
UCLA may count itself lucky to have been bounced in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament because this is just their second game in that same span. That’s a big note since the Bruins had such a crazy travel schedule this season.
The other sign pointing to UCLA being a tough out on Saturday is that the Bruins are very comfortable playing the style of basketball that Tennessee prefers.
The Vols rank 346th in adjusted tempo, while the Bruins sit at 313th.
Betting on College Basketball?
UCLA vs. Tennessee pick
The Bruins’ resume this season really doesn’t pop out at you, but when you dig into what they had to deal with during conference play it starts to make you wonder about this team’s ceiling.
They’re getting some respect from the betting market as a 4.5-point underdog against one of the best teams in the field, but there is still some room on the UCLA bandwagon.
Circle this one as a potential upset.
The Pick: UCLA +175 (Caesars)
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Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
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