UCLA vs. UNC Asheville Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round First Round

The No. 15 UNC Asheville Bulldogs (27-7) are 17.5-point underdogs to move on to the second round of the NCAA Tournament when they face off against the No. 2 UCLA Bruins (29-5) on Thursday. Here are some insights into this 2-15 matchup in the West Region bracket that begins at 10:05 PM, live on truTV. The point total for the matchup is set at 136.

UCLA vs. UNC Asheville Odds

• UCLA odds to win: -2553
• UNC Asheville odds to win: +1158
• Spread: UCLA (-17.5)
• Total: 136

UCLA vs. UNC Asheville Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023
• Time: 10:05 PM ET
• TV: truTV
• Where: Sacramento, California
• Venue: Golden 1 Center

Who Will Win UCLA vs. UNC Asheville?

UCLA and UNC Asheville Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

UCLA has a 5-3 record against the spread this season when favored by 17.5 points or more.

UNC Asheville is 0-1 against the spread when an underdog by 17.5 points or greater this season.

The two teams average a combined 12.9 more points per game (148.9) than this game’s over/under of 136 points.

UCLA and UNC Asheville have seen their opponents average a combined 7.1 fewer points per game than the over/under of 136 set for this outing.

The average total UCLA has had set in matchups this season is 1.8 fewer points than this outing’s point total.

The average point total for the Bulldogs this season is 7.6 points higher than this game’s over/under.

The Bruins have gone 19-14-1 ATS this season.

The Bulldogs are 17-15-0 against the spread this season.

UCLA Stats & Insights

UCLA’s +463 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 13.6 points per game) is a result of scoring 73.9 points per game (125th in college basketball) while allowing 60.3 per outing (sixth in college basketball).

UCLA wins the rebound battle by 3.4 boards on average. It records 32.6 rebounds per game, which ranks 120th in college basketball, while its opponents grab 29.2 per contest.

The Bruins make 6.1 three-pointers per game (310th in college basketball) at a 34.7% rate (155th in college basketball), compared to the 6.5 their opponents make while shooting 31.1% from deep.

UCLA ranks 78th in college basketball by averaging 97.6 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is fourth in college basketball, allowing 79.6 points per 100 possessions.

Offensively, the Bruins have performed better at home this season, scoring 77.8 points per game, compared to 69.8 per game in away games.

UNC Asheville Stats & Insights

UNC Asheville is outscoring opponents by 6.4 points per game, with a +219 scoring differential overall. It puts up 75 points per game (99th in college basketball) and allows 68.6 per outing (134th in college basketball).

UNC Asheville wins the rebound battle by 1.3 boards on average. It records 32.1 rebounds per game, 157th in college basketball, while its opponents grab 30.8.

UNC Asheville makes 1.7 more threes per game than the opposition, 7.9 (115th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 6.2.

UNC Asheville averages 96.4 points per 100 possessions (113th in college basketball), while giving up 88.1 points per 100 possessions (82nd in college basketball).

At home the Bulldogs are scoring 79.6 points per game, 7.7 more than they are averaging on the road (71.9).

UCLA Key Players to Watch

The scoring and rebounding leader for the Bruins is Jaime Jaquez Jr., who averages 17.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

UCLA’s best passer is Tyger Campbell, who averages 4.6 assists per game to go with his 13.6 PPG scoring average.

David Singleton makes more threes per game than any other member of the Bruins, knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a clip of two per contest.

The UCLA steals leader is Jaylen Clark, who averages 2.6 takeaways per game, while its blocks leader is Adem Bona, who compiles 1.7 rejections per contest.

UNC Asheville Key Players to Watch

Drew Pember puts up 21.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs, enough to make him the leading scorer and rebounder on the squad.

Caleb Burgess’ assist statline leads UNC Asheville; he racks up 4.5 assists per game.

Tajion Jones is reliable from deep and leads the Bulldogs with 2.9 made threes per game.

UNC Asheville’s leader in steals is Trent Stephney with 1.1 per game, and its leader in blocks is Pember with 2.3 per game.

UCLA vs. UNC Asheville Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  UCLA (-17.5)
  

• Pick OU:

  Over (136)
  

• Prediction:
  UCLA 79, UNC Asheville 59

How to Bet on UCLA vs. UNC Asheville

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