UCLA (22-6)
+1, over/under 124
at California (17-8), 10:30 p.m. Eastern
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
If the UCLA Bruins are going to win the PAC-10 regular season title this season, they'll have to wrap it up on the road. The first step in this two-part process comes tonight when UCLA visits Berkeley to take on Cal's Golden Bears.
The Bruins have won six of their last eight games, including a 70-53 decision over Oregon Sunday as an eight-point favorite. UCLA shot 25 of 47 from the floor in the victory.
Cal has won seven of its last nine games, but fell at Washington 73-62 Sunday as an eight-point underdog.
UCLA is 14-10 against the spread this season, 4-3 straight up and 5-2 ats as an underdog, 6-2 both straight up and ats on the road and 10-6 ats in PAC-10 play.
Cal has also been good to bettors this season, going 14-9 against the spread overall. The Bears are 9-6 ats as a favorite, 8-4 ats at home and 9-6 ats in the PAC-10.
The Bruins and the Bears have split their last six encounters. Earlier this season, Cal pulled the upset when they beat UCLA at Pauley Pavilion 68-61 as a seven-point dog on New Year's Eve.
UCLA is shooting 48 percent from the floor on the season, and owns a +5.6 rebounds per game margin. The Bruins have outrebounded their last three opponents.
Cal is shooting 45 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point land and 72 percent from the line. But the Bears, despite forward Leon Powe's best efforts, have been outrebounded in five straight games.
Powe is clearly a real talent. The 6-8 sophomore leads the conference in both scoring (20 points per game) and rebounding (10 per game).
UCLA, at 12-4, leads the PAC-10 by one game over Cal and Washington, with two games to go. The Bruins end the regular season with a visit to Stanford Saturday, while Cal hosts USC. So with a win tonight, it's not inconceivable that the Bears could win, with a little help, their first conference title in 46 years.
Cal may own a solid 11-5 mark in the PAC-10, but they carry only a #58 rating in the latest RPI at NCAAsports.com, thanks to losses this season to Eastern Michigan, DePaul, Oregon State and Arizona State.
UCLA is ranked 15th in that latest RPI.
The under is a very profitable 32-15 collectively in UCLA and Cal games this season.
CLICK HERE
to bet this game using your checking account at one of the web's best online sportsbooks!
The Ultimatecapper Pick: Sorry, no opinion on this one!
