UCLA Bruins vs Colorado Buffaloes Prediction, 2/27/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: UCLA Bruins vs Colorado Buffaloes

Date: Saturday, February 27, 2021

Location: CU Events Center in Boulder, CO

TV: ESPN2

Odds/Point Spread: UCLA (+6.5)

The UCLA Bruins (17-5) travel to CU Events Center on Saturday where they'll take on the Colorado Buffaloes (18-7). UCLA opens this game as 6.5-point underdogs. The total is set at 136.

UCLA comes into this one with a record of 17-5 so far this year. They lose possession by turning the ball over 10.8 times per contest and as a basketball team they are committing 15.6 personal fouls every game. As a unit, UCLA is grabbing 35.8 boards per game and is sitting with 308 dimes for the season, which ranks 88th in D-1 in terms of passing. The Bruins are shooting 37.0% on shots from distance (152 of 411) and 72.1% from the free throw line. They are averaging 73.5 pts per contest (127th in the country) on 45.8% from the floor. On the defensive end, the Bruins are forcing their opponents into 12.2 turnovers per game and they draw 18.5 fouls. They currently rank 216th in college hoops in giving up assists to their opponents with 274 conceded on the season. The Bruins defensively are giving up an opponent shooting percentage of 43.0% (534 of 1,242) and they surrender 31.3 boards per game as a unit. They are relinquishing 34.9% on 3-point attempts and they are ranked 99th in D-1 in PPG allowed (67.4).

The UCLA Bruins played the Utah Utes and went home with a win by a final score of 76-61 in their last game. UCLA wrapped up the game with a 55.4% FG percentage (31 out of 56) and converted 11 of their 19 shots from beyond the perimeter. When they shot from the charity stripe, the Bruins converted 3 of their 4 shots for a percentage of 75.0%. Regarding pulling down rebounds, they collected 28 with 2 of them being of the offensive variety. They also distributed 13 dimes for the game as well as forcing the other team into 8 turnovers and having 5 steals. With regard to the defense, UCLA allowed 44.8% from the floor on 26 of 58 shooting. Utah recorded 19 dimes and had 5 steals in this contest. In addition, Utah collected 22 rebounds (2 offensive, 20 defensive) and had 6 blocks. They also knocked down 9 out of their 21 shots from downtown.

Jules Bernard is one player who was a contributor in this contest. He accounted for 19 points on 7 of 10 shooting. He played 35 minutes played and collected 4 boards. Bernard finished shooting 70.0% from the floor and totaled 3 dimes. An additional guy that was a factor in this game for the Bruins was Johnny Juzang. He had 8 rebounds in his 33 min on the court. He ended up going 53.8% from the field for this contest by connecting on 7-of-13 (18 points). Overall, Juzang earned 2 assists.

Colorado has a win-loss mark of 18-7 this season. Colorado has scored 1,845 pts this season (73.8 per contest) and they average 35.1 boards per game. The Buffaloes are responsible for committing 16.5 fouls per contest and they shoot 83.1% from the free throw line. As an offense, the Buffaloes are hitting on 45.7% from the field, which is ranked 96th in Division 1. They are dishing out assists 13.9 times per game (128th in college basketball) and they lose possession by turning the ball over 11.4 times per game. The Buffaloes on defense are ranked 27th in college basketball in points given up per game with 63.1. The Colorado defense concedes 32.4% on shots from 3-point land (154 of 475) and their opponents are connecting on 72.7% of their foul shots. They surrender 11.2 dimes and 31.1 total rebounds per game, which has them ranked 55th and 32nd in those defensive categories. They are forcing their opponents into 13.4 turnovers on a nightly basis and have let teams shoot 41.5% from the floor (90th in college hoops).

When they last stepped on the hardwood, the Colorado Buffaloes got the victory with a final of 80-62 against the USC Trojans. The Buffaloes were able to corral 25 defensive boards and 7 offensive rebounds for a total of 32 for the contest. They also gave up possession of the ball 9 times, while recording 7 steals in the game. The Trojans were called for 15 personal fouls in this game which got the Buffaloes to the charity stripe for a total of 15 shots. They were able to knock down 14 of them for a rate of 93.3%. In terms of shots from downtown, Colorado converted 12 of 22 attempts (54.5%). Overall, the Buffaloes shot 27 out of 57 from the field which gave them a shooting percentage of 47.4%. The Buffaloes permitted the Trojans to bury 23 of their 60 tries from the floor which had them shooting 38.3% for the contest. They finished 31.3% from 3-point land by hitting 5 out of 16 and finished the contest at 11 of 18 at the charity stripe (61.1%). When discussing attacking the glass, Colorado allowed USC to get 30 overall (10 offensive).

McKinley Wright ended up being a factor for the Buffaloes for the matchup. He made 4 out of 14 for the matchup for a rate of 28.6%, and accumulated 4 rebounds. Wright scored 15 points in his 34 mins on the hardwood and earned 14 dimes in this matchup. Someone else who was a determining factor for Colorado was D'Shawn Schwartz. He walked away with 1 assist in his 33 minutes on the hardwood, and he converted 4 out of 7 from the floor. Schwartz wrapped this one up going 57.1% from the floor in addition to earning 12 points and 4 rebounds.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take UCLA (+6.5)

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