Will UCLA’s ATS Luck Continue Against Colorado?
UCLA is 6-1-1 against the spread over its last eight games.
The Colorado Buffaloes Look to Roar At Pauley Pavilion
Just a game separates the Colorado Buffaloes and the UCLA Bruins in the Pac-12 standings heading into their only regular-season meeting in their final run through the Pac-12.
The Colorado vs UCLA preview has the Buffaloes as the road favorite for just the second time in the last 11 trips to Pauley Pavilion.
UCLA has won the last five meetings against Colorado with three of those victories coming at home. The Bruins have won five consecutive home games against Colorado with the last three all decided by double-digits.
The college basketball odds have Colorado listed as the 1.5-point favorite.
When looking at the NCAAB betting odds, UCLA began the season at +3000 in the odds to win March Madness. Those odds are now at +25000 with Colorado going from +8000 to +20000 in the championship odds. Colorado is just 1-5 in Quad 1 games and 35th in the NCAA NET rankings. UCLA is 111th in the NCAA NET rankings and 0-6 in Quad 1 games.
Colorado vs UCLA 
Day/Time:
Records: Buffaloes (7-6 in the Pac-12)/Bruins (8-5 in the Pac-12)
Location: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
Streaming: ESPN, ESPN+
Buffaloes Hope to Run Wild As the Road Favorite
It is a tough stretch for Colorado with three losses in the last four NCAAB games after falling to the Pac-12 favorite Arizona by 20 points at home as the Wildcats shot 53% from the field.
Perhaps going on the road is just what Colorado needs to get back to its winning ways.
Leading scorer KJ Simpson averages more points per game and shots better from 3-point range on the road than he does at home and that is something to consider when looking at the Colorado vs UCLA preview.
Colorado has covered in just one of its last five games.
Never a Dull Moment in Recent UCLA Matchups
More than a few eyes were on the Bruins after a 46-point loss to Utah. UCLA responded with a double-digit win versus Washington. Since then, six of the next seven Bruins games were decided by seven points or less.
Three of those contests were one-score games in the final minute. That included a two-point win over Arizona State and a one-point victory over California in the last game.
UCLA has won its last four games decided by less than 10 points after opening the NCAAB season 3-10 in single-digit point games.
Seventeen of UCLA’s games have been decided by single digits so that could factor into the Colorado vs UCLA preview.
UCLA is 6-1-1 against the spread over its last eight games.
Last Meeting
Amari Bailey had 26 points as UCLA topped Colorado in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament despite not having the services of Jaylen Clark.
UCLA trailed by a point at halftime before scoring 43 points in the second half to pull away and improve to 3-0 against the Buffaloes during the 2022-23 season.
The game went under the 133-point total with 2:27 left to play. It was the first time in eight meetings between UCLA and Colorado to land over the total.
Colorado vs UCLA Betting Preview
When making the best NCAAB bets today, keep in mind that Colorado hasn’t won at UCLA since 2019
UCLA is just 5-7 as the underdog this season while Colorado has won 15 of its 19 games as a road favorite.
Colorado has failed to cover against the NCAAB betting odds in its previous four games as the road favorite. UCLA is 2-0 against the spread as the underdog at home.
The Bruins have covered in just three of their 12 home games.
Five of Colorado’s seven road games went over the total. The total is at 137.5 for this game.
The total has gone over in six of Colorado’s last seven games while Colorado has failed to cover in four of its last six games played in February.
UCLA is a strong defensive NCAAB team yet again, ranking 27th in defensive efficiency according to the Pomeroy college basketball rankings but the Bruins are just 174th in offensive efficiency. Colorado is 27th in offensive efficiency.
Colorado ranks in the top 40 nationally in scoring offense, 3-point shooting, field-goal percentage, and free-throw percentage and that is something to consider when looking at the total.
The Buffaloes will be without reserve guard RJ Smith for the rest of the season.
This has not been the best season in recent memory for UCLA. However, seeing the Bruins as the 1.5-point underdog at home is a little surprising. UCLA has covered in six of the last nine meetings against Colorado and we like that trend to continue.
For NCAAB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
