The UCLA Bruins take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in New York, NY, as part of the CBS Sports Classic. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. ET on CBS.
UCLA is favored by 1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -130. The total is set at 149 points.
Here are my UCLA vs. UNC predictions and college basketball picks for December 21, 2024.
UCLA vs UNC Prediction
My Pick: UCLA -1.5 (Play to -3.5)
My UCLA vs UNC best bet is on the Bruins spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
UCLA vs UNC Odds, Lines, Pick
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 149 -110 / -110 | -130 |
| UNC Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 149 -110 / -110 | +110 |
- UCLA vs UNC spread: UCLA -1.5
- UCLA vs UNC over/under: 149 points
- UCLA vs UNC moneyline: UCLA -130, UNC +110
- UCLA vs UNC best bet: UCLA -1.5 (Play to -3.5)
My UCLA vs UNC College Basketball Betting Preview
Two teams trending in opposite directions meet in their final marquee non-conference tune up of the season.
UCLA holds the nation's sixth-longest active win streak (nine games), while North Carolina has lost four of its last six.
UNC has struggled against quality opponents all season long. The Tar Heels are 0-5 vs. top 30 teams, and their only quality victory came in the Maui Invitational against Dayton.
Slow starts have been a problem, as North Carolina has trailed at the half in all six games it has played against top 100 teams. The Tar Heels normally do their damage in the second half after building a massive deficit, trying to come back and win the game.
That trend poses a big problem against UCLA, as Mick Cronin's squad has not been out-scored in the second half of any game yet this season.
UCLA has an elite defense. The Bruins rank fourth nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, and they force more turnovers than any team in college basketball. This Bruins squad is deep and full of players that are perfect for a Cronin-style defense.
UCLA has the guards to match up with North Carolina's small-ball trio. Kobe Johnson is a sensational defender, but the Bruins also use Dylan Andrews, Skyy Clark and Sebastian Mack, keeping everyone fresh at all times.
North Carolina prefers to play fast, as it's the third-fastest team in all of college hoops. UCLA makes those teams uncomfortable, slowing things down and mucking up the game in a half-court setting.
We have seen Hubert Davis' team struggle in half-court situations at the end of games all season long, and the Heels usually resort to RJ Davis pull-up 3s when possessions get dragged out.
The problem is North Carolina is shooting just 31% from 3-point range, and UCLA has a great 3-point defense.
Inside, Tyler Bilodeau has been the featured option for UCLA. He often operates as an under-sized center, but North Carolina doesn't have the frontcourt personnel to make UCLA pay.
If North Carolina starts slow — as it usually does — it will be incredibly hard to dig out of a hole against a very disciplined, slow UCLA team that has the right personnel to match up with Carolina's small-ball lineups.
Take the Bruins to earn a statement win and cover as North Carolina's streak of poor results will continue.
