Rider Broncs vs UCLA Bruins NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/4/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Broncs and Bruins. The game is starting at 10:30 ET on FS1, and it’s hosted by the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this game is set at 139 points, and UCLA is favored by -21 against Rider in a non-conference matchup.

RIDER BRONCS VS UCLA BRUINS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Rider Broncs +21

This game will be played at Pauley Pavilion at 10:30 ET on Monday, November 4th.

WHY BET THE RIDER BRONCS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-72 in favor of the Bruins.
  • Even though we have UCLA winning straight-up, we like Rider at +21.
  • The over/under is currently sitting at 139 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.

Will Rider Make it Happen on the Road?

Rider Broncs Records

Rider finished last season with a 14-17 record, going 12-9 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. At home, they were 8-5, with a +4.9 average scoring margin, but struggled on the road, going 6-12 and losing by an average of 6.1 points per game.

Against the spread, the Broncs were 16-14, and they went 9-4 straight-up when favored. As underdogs, they were 5-13. Their average over/under line was 142.5 points, and they had an 18-13 O/U record, with their games averaging 143.1 points per game.

Rider averaged 72.2 points per game last season, ranking 70th in possessions per game at 66.5. They struggled with shooting, finishing 272nd in field goal percentage (43%) and 320th in effective field goal percentage (48%). The Broncs were 346th in two-point percentage (47%) and made 5.7 three-pointers per game, ranking 331st. They attempted 16.9 threes per game, shooting 33% from beyond the arc, which ranked 204th. At the free-throw line, they made 14.2 per game, placing 152nd.

Jay Alvarez is Rider’s top returning scorer, averaging 15.6 points per game last season. He also contributed 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. T.J. Weeks Jr. is another key returner, averaging 10 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season.

Rider’s defense allowed 72.1 points per game last season, ranking 174th in the nation. Opponents shot 33.0% from beyond the arc against them, placing Rider 270th in 3-point percentage defense. They also struggled with fouling, giving up 20.6 free-throw attempts per game, which ranked 261st nationally.

In terms of defensive playmaking, Rider averaged 6.6 steals per game, ranking 171st in the country. They also recorded 3.8 blocked shots per game, placing them 111th nationally in that category.

Can the Bruins Offense Score Enough at Home?

UCLA Bruins Records

UCLA finished last season with a 16-17 record, going 11-11 in Big Ten play. At home, they posted a 10-9 mark, with an average scoring margin of +2.9 points per game. On the road, they went 6-8, losing by an average of 2.7 points per game.

Against the spread, the Bruins were 14-17, with an 8-4 record in road games. They were 11-6 straight-up when favored but just 5-10 ATS. As underdogs, they went 9-7 ATS. Their average over/under line was 134.5 points, and they had a 13-20 O/U record, with their games averaging 131.4 points per contest.

UCLA averaged 66 points per game last season, ranking 307th in possessions per game with 61.8. They struggled with shooting, finishing 342nd in field goal percentage at 41% and 367th in effective field goal percentage at 46%. Their two-point shooting was 45%, placing them 385th nationally. From beyond the arc, they made 5.5 threes per game, shooting 33% and ranking 329th in three-point percentage.

Returning forwards Tyler Bilodeau and William Kyle III will be key for the Bruins. Bilodeau averaged 14.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season, while Kyle III contributed 13.1 points and 6.6 rebounds. Both players will be crucial in improving UCLA’s offensive efficiency this season.

UCLA allowed 65.5 points per game last season, ranking 22nd in the nation. Opponents shot 32.6% from 3-point range against them, placing the Bruins 241st in that category. They also gave up 18.5 free throws per game, ranking 176th nationally.

UCLA averaged 5.8 steals per game, ranking 276th, and 3.3 blocked shots per game, which was 187th in the country.