Colorado Buffaloes vs. UCLA Bruins Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Dec. 1, 2021

Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Colorado Buffaloes (6-1, 1-0 Pac-12) travel to meet the UCLA Bruins (6-1, 0-0) for a Pac-12 Conference matchup Wednesday night at Pauley Pavilion. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on the PAC-12 Network.

Score Prediction

UCLA 81, Colorado 69

Best Bets

Colorado +13.5 (-110)

Over 141.5 (-110)

Colorado Buffaloes vs. UCLA Bruins Predictions

Colorado picked up an 80-76 victory in Boulder, pushing against the four-point number, as the OVER connected in the Pac-12 opener against Stanford Sunday. It was the third straight victory for the Buffaloes, but perhaps the most complete game of the season against an opponent of note. There haven't been a lot for Colorado to date, as they have wins over Montana State, New Mexico and Maine, before losing to Southern Illinois on a neutral court. They also topped Duquesne in overtime, and they edged Brown of the Ivy League by two points. So not much was expected against the Cardinal, but they got it done and took the early lead in the conference standings.

Colorado had five players in double digits against Stanford, including 22 from Evan Battey, while Jabari Walker posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds while posting two steals. The Buffaloes hit 49% (27-of-55) from the field while nailing seven 3-pointers, going 37% from downtown. The Buffs also were fair from the free-throw line against Stanford, hitting 19-of-26 (73%), and they turned it over just five times. If they can tighten up from the charity stripe a little, this could be a team to contend.

UCLA is a battle-tested team, and this will be a giant test for the Buffs. Colorado hasn't faced anybody with the athletes the Bruins boast. Last time out against UNLV, UCLA breezed to a 73-51 win, snapping an 0-2 ATS mini-skid. Four players were in double digits, including Jules Bernard with 18 points and two blocked shots, and Tyger Campbell with 15 points and a pair of triples.

Colorado Buffaloes vs. UCLA Bruins Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Colorado Buffaloes vs. UCLA Bruins Betting Resources

• Matchup: Pac-12
• Date: Wednesday, December 1, 2021
• Venue: Pauley Pavilion
• Location: Los Angeles, California
• TV-Time: Pac-12 - 9:30 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

Colorado Buffaloes Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 6-1
• ATS: 1-5-1
• O/U: 5-2

Colorado has posted six victories across seven games overall, but they haven't done very well against the number. The Buffaloes are just 1-5-1 ATS in their seven outings, with a lone cover Nov. 15 against Maine in a 90-46 rout as 24.5-point favorites. This will be the first true road game for the Buffs, although they're 2-1 SU/0-3 ATS in three neutral-site affairs. They won by four against Stanford last time out, and by just two against Brown in a neutral-site affair on Nov. 22 in the most recent game away from home.

So can we expect Colorado to threaten one of the nations' elite teams if they can barely beat Brown and Stanford, while needing overtime against Duquesne? Probably not. But if the Buffaloes can manage to limit the turnovers, pick up the pace at the free-throw line and hit an insane amount of threes, well, maybe.

Colorado is just 2-7 ATS in the past nine games as an underdog, and 14-37-1 ATS in the past 52 games as a road 'dog, while going 0-3-1 ATS in the past four against teams with a winning overall record. They're also 0-3-1 ATS in the past four outings overall.

UCLA Bruins Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 6-1
• ATS: 4-3
• O/U: 4-3

UCLA enters as a double-digit favorite, going 5-0 SU when favored by 10+ points this season, although they're just 3-2 ATS in the situation. The cashed the last time they were a double-digit favorite, pounding UNLV 73-51 to cover a 10.5-point number as the UNDER connected. In fact, the 51 points allowed was a season best for the Bruins, which was a nice bounce-back game after getting hammered by Gonzaga on a neutral-site floor on Nov. 23 as seven-point underdogs, 83-63.

UCLA covered last time out, but hasn't covered consecutive games since beating Cal State Bakersfield and Villanova in OT in the first two games of the season.

The Bruins are averaging just 68.0 PPG across the past two games, which is over 16 points lower than their season average. It's no surprise the UNDER is on a 3-0 run for the Bruins after a 4-0 OVER streak to start the season.

UCLA has posted a 17-8-1 ATS mark across the past 26 games at home dating back to last season. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Colorado Buffaloes

• Record: 6-1
• VI Ranking: 63
• PS/G: 78.9 (66th)
• PA/G: 69 (188th)
• ORtg: 112.2 (51st)
• DRtg: 98.2 (212th)

Inside the Stats - UCLA Bruins

• Record: 6-1
• VI Ranking: 5
• PS/G: 84.3 (21st)
• PA/G: 67.6 (161st)
• ORtg: 116.8 (19th)
• DRtg: 93.7 (131st)

Key Players to Watch

• CU: Evan Battey - F (14.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.0 APG, 72.7 3P%)
• CU: Jabari Walker - F (13.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.0 SPG)
• UCLA: Jaime Jaquez Jr. - G (15.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.4 SPG)
• UCLA: Johnny Juzang - G (17.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.5 3P%)

Colorado Buffaloes vs. UCLA Bruins Betting Conclusion

Colorado's coach Tad Boyle has enjoyed how his team has responded in close games, and is using it to motivate his team. Last season, these teams played twice, with Colorado winning 70-61 in Boulder on Feb. 27, and UCLA edging Colorado 65-62 as a one-point favorite. The UNDER connected in each of those outings, although the OVER is 5-2 in the past seven meetings overall in this series. The home team is also 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings.

These teams are essentially the same, although everyone is heaping praise on Mick Cronin's team after its improbable run to the Final Four. Are they that good? We'll find out a lot about the Bruins as they get into conference play against a mid-tier team from their own conference. I think UCLA is able to pull away late, but Colorado has a penchant for hanging around and making things interesting.

Colorado Buffaloes vs. UCLA Bruins Betting Trends

• Colorado is 0-3-1 ATS in the past four games overall.
• Colorado is 2-7 ATS in the past nine as an underdog.
• Colorado is 0-3-1 ATS in the past four against winning teams.
• UCLA is 10-3 ATS in the past 13 games overall.
• UCLA is 5-2 ATS in the past seven as a favorite.
• The OVER is 8-3 in Colorado's past 11 games.
• The OVER is 4-1 in UCLA's past five home games.
• The home team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings.

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