UCLA vs Maryland Betting Preview
Terrapins Rate Slight Nod in Battle of Heavyweights
There’s little doubt the game of the day in college basketball on Wednesday night is No. 16 UCLA at No. 20 Maryland. The Terrapins should be slight favorites with a total close to 141. Both teams are well above average offensively and can play tough defense. The Bruins score more, while Maryland allows fewer points.
Any UCLA vs Maryland betting preview has to begin with looking at the current form of the two teams and the Bruins have run off five straight victories after back-to-back losses. The Terrapins have dropped their last two games to Wisconsin and Tennessee.
Game Information
UCLA (8-2) at Maryland (8-2)
Date & Time & Streaming:
Location: Xfinity Center (College Park, Maryland)
Streaming: Fox Sports 1
Big Difference in Shot Selection
When looking at a UCLA vs Maryland betting preview, the big difference in the two college basketball teams comes in shot selection. The Bruins are a little faster paced and don’t shoot that many 3-pointers, despite being a good long-range shooting team. Of UCLA’s shots, only 28.9% are 3-pointers, which ranks them No. 341 out of 363 teams. UCLA does hit 36.6% of 3-pointers, so they should be taking more of them. The Bruins attempt 18.6 3-pointers per game.
The Terrapins take 22.8 3-pointers per game, which is 39.7% of their field goal attempts. But Maryland isn’t very good from the outside, hitting just 31.1% of 3-pointers. The Terrapins need to focus on what they do best and that’s shoot from the inside.
UCLA Bruins
UCLA BruinsThe Bruins are 8-2 straight-up but only 5-5 against the college basketball spreads. The Bruins are 1-3 ATS in their last four games despite going 4-0 straight-up, so the team is a little overvalued in the betting market. UCLA’s last four ATS losses have been by 3.5 points or less. This is the start of a tough two-game series for the Bruins, who play Kentucky on Saturday.
The Bruins are led by their guard trio of Jaime Jacquez, Jaylen Clark and Tyger Campbell. The three are the Bruins top three scorers, leading rebounder and leading playmaker. If you want to stop the Bruins, you’ll have to stop a couple of those three.
A UCLA vs Maryland betting preview will note the Bruins take care of the basketball and can force turnovers. UCLA makes an average of 10.2 turnovers per game.
Maryland Terrapins
Maryland TerrapinsA UCLA vs Maryland betting preview will note the Terrapins are 8-2 against the spread this season, but aren’t entering this game on the highest of notes. The Terrapins played tough their last two games but came up just short both times. Maryland does have a couple of soft foes in Saint Peter’s and UMBC on deck, so it should be focused on this game.
Maryland has four NCAAB players averaging more than 10 points a game, with Jahmir Young leading the way. If he was hitting more than 29.3% of his 3-pointers, he’d be scoring more than his 15.6 points per game. Julian Reese is averaging 11.9 points per game and hitting 75% of his field goal attempts.
The Terrapins don’t force a lot of turnovers but are solid on defense. The team’s effective defensive field goal percentage ranks No. 16.
Can Maryland Right the Ship?
There are far easier teams than UCLA to end a losing skid against, but these two teams are pretty evenly matched. Playing in front of the home fans might give Maryland the edge it needs. The Sagarin college basketball rankings have the Bruins 1.68 points better on a neutral court. Ken Pomeroy has UCLA 3.59 points better.
Defensive effective field goal percentage that ranks No. 161, the Bruins can’t allow to give the Terps an equal number of shot attempts.
The key for the Bruins will be to force turnovers. With a defensive effective field goal percentage that ranks No. 161, the Bruins can’t allow to give the Terps an equal number of shot attempts. The best way to keep Maryland from scoring is limiting their shots.
The Terrapins have to take good shots and play to their strength. Maryland hits 56.9% of its 2-point attempts and should be able to hit some shots against the Bruins. If Maryland can take care of the ball, its chances will increase.
This UCLA vs Maryland betting preview says to look for Maryland to get back on track and pull out the victory over UCLA.
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