Despite being a No. 6 seed UCLA will hit the court as an underdog on the betting odds against No. 11 seed Minnesota on Friday night, as the Bruins look to advance by knocking off the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota is just 2-9 ATS in its past 11 games overall, and 1-7 ATS in its past eight games as a favorite. The Bruins are 5-3-1 ATS in their past eight games overall and 4-1 ATS in their past five as an underdog.
The total has favored the UNDER in nine of the Golden Gophers' past 11 games, and in four of the Bruins' past six.
The Bruins sit at 25-9 (14-18-1 ATS) on the season. By comparison, the Golden Gophers are currently 20-12 (15-15 ATS). Looking to wager on the totals? UCLA is 14-16 OU, and Minnesota is 11-16 OU.
View Minnesota vs UCLA Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
Bettors looking to go with the Bruins in this one found them listed as 3-point underdogs earlier on the NCAA basketball betting menu at Sportsbook. The total was bet up to 135 at Sportsbook as of Wednesday.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 55-ranked Bruins and the No. 18-rated Golden Gophers in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 75-74 win for the Golden Gophers on Friday.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up UCLA's No. 28 nationally ranked offense (74.7 points per game) against a Golden Gophers defense that sits as the No. 55 at 61.7 PPG. The Bruins have been averaging 45.5% from the field, more than the Golden Gophers have managed so far this season (44.2% on average).
Defensively, Minnesota features the nation's No. 63-rated defense on the road, allowing 64.8 points per game. UCLA, meanwhile, comes in at No. 45 nationally in scoring at home.
In their last action, Minnesota was a 51-49 loser on the road against Illinois. They failed to cover the 3-point spread as favorites. Minnesota suffered a 51-49 loss against Illinois on Thursday, getting 16 points from Austin Hollins in a losing effort at United Center.
UCLA lost its last outing, a 78-69 result against Oregon on March 16. They failed to cover in that game as a 2-point underdog. The Bruins endured a 78-69 loss at the hands of the Ducks on Saturday, despite a 14-point effort from Larry Drew II at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Trends:
When playing on Friday are 6-4
After playing Illinois are 4-6
After a loss are 3-7
UCLA Bruins Trends:
When playing on Friday are 9-1
After playing Oregon are 9-1
After a loss are 9-1
A few Golden Gophers at Bruins trends to consider:
UCLA is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of UCLA's last 6 games
