Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs UCLA Bruins NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/26/24

Betting on today’s Thunderbirds and Bruins game? Catch the action at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA, as the Bruins hosts this showdown at 10:00 ET on BTN. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 140.5 points, with UCLA being favored by -22.5 over Southern Utah.

SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS VS UCLA BRUINS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Southern Utah Thunderbirds +22.5

This game will be played at Pauley Pavilion at 10:00 ET on Tuesday, November 26th.

WHY BET THE SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-73 in favor of the Bruins.
• Even though we have UCLA winning straight-up, we like Southern Utah at +22.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 140.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.

Do the Thunderbirds Stand a Chance on the Road?

Southern Utah Thunderbirds Recent Game/Games

Southern Utah picked up a road win over Idaho on Saturday, November 23rd, with an 82-67 victory. The Thunderbirds entered the game as -3.5 favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game reached 149, surpassing the over/under line of 145.

Southern Utah took control early, leading 42-25 at halftime. While they allowed 42 points in the 2nd half, they scored 40 of their own to maintain their lead and secure the win.

Southern Utah’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 82 points with a field goal percentage of 56.6% (30/53). Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 67.9%, thanks in part to their 57.9% shooting from beyond the arc (11/19) and 55.9% shooting inside the arc (19/34).

They also connected on 78.6% of their free throws (11/14) and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds. Jamir Simpson led the way with 21 points, while Dominique Ford and Kyson Rose each added 14 points. Jack Payne chipped in 12 points, hitting both of his three-point attempts.

Southern Utah’s defense gave up 67 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 43% from the field, hitting 25 of 57 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 18 of 41 shots to fall, also at a 43% clip.

From three-point range, the Thunderbirds’ defense saw 7 of 16 shots go in, with opponents shooting 43%. They also sent the other team to the line 12 times, where they converted 10 free throws for 83%. Southern Utah allowed 10 offensive rebounds.

Will UCLA Come Through as Home Favorites?

UCLA continued their dominant start to the season with an 80-47 win over Cal State Fullerton on Friday, November 22nd. Playing at home, the Bruins entered the game as heavy favorites, with a -27 point spread, and they covered it comfortably. The total points for the game ended at 127, falling short of the 133.5 O/U line.

UCLA took control early, leading 39-25 at halftime, and they clamped down defensively in the second half, allowing just 22 points while scoring 41 of their own.

UCLA’s offense put up 80 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and posting an effective field goal percentage of 55%. They connected on 57.1% of their two-point attempts, while hitting 33.3% from beyond the arc, going 6-for-18 from three-point range.

The Bruins struggled at the free-throw line, making just 60.9% of their attempts, but they grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and dished out 22 assists. Kobe Johnson contributed 12 points and 5 assists, while Tyler Bilodeau and Eric Dailey Jr. each added 11 points, with Dailey hitting 50% of his threes.

Despite UCLA’s defensive struggles, allowing 47 points on 50% shooting, they still managed to hold their opponent to just 47 points. The Bruins gave up 24 two-point field goals on 42 attempts, a 57% conversion rate.

From beyond the arc, UCLA’s defense allowed 6 threes on 18 attempts, with their opponent shooting 33%. They also sent them to the free-throw line 23 times, where they converted 14 for 60%. UCLA allowed 12 offensive rebounds in the game.