UCLA Bruins to Crush the UNC Asheville Bulldogs 3/16

Photo Credit © Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

KingPin.pro Predicts the UCLA Bruins to Crush the UNC Asheville Bulldogs

March Madness is almost upon us and KingPin.pro is here to provide you with our expert predictions for the upcoming NCAA Tournament game between the UCLA Bruins and the UNC Asheville Bulldogs. Both teams are gearing up to play in the first round of the tournament and KingPin.pro has analyzed their stats, injuries, and betting trends to give you the best pick.

UCLA Bruins

Offense: The UCLA Bruins are an offensive powerhouse, averaging 73.9 points per game and scoring a total of 2,156 points this season. They have an average score margin of +13.6 and have gone 18-2 against Pac-12 teams, with an 11-3 record in non-conference play.

Shooting: The Bruins have a shooting percentage of 45.8%, with an effective field goal percentage of 50.9%. They have a three-point percentage of 34.7% and a two-point percentage of 50.4%.

Defense: The UCLA defense is formidable, allowing only 60.3 points per game on average. They have an average score margin of -13.6 and have held opponents to a shooting percentage of 40.6% with an effective field goal percentage of 46.8%.

Rebounding: The Bruins average 35.8 rebounds per game, with an offensive rebound percentage of 32.0% and a defensive rebound percentage of 75.2%.

UNC Asheville Bulldogs

Offense: The UNC Asheville Bulldogs have a decent offense, averaging 73.0 points per game and scoring a total of 2,133 points this season. They have an average score margin of +3.7 and are 16-2 in Big South play.

Shooting: The Bulldogs have a shooting percentage of 46.7%, with an effective field goal percentage of 53.9%. They have a three-point percentage of 38.8% and a two-point percentage of 51.4%.

Defense: The UNC Asheville defense allows an average of 69.3 points per game. They have an average score margin of -3.7 and have held opponents to a shooting percentage of 42.8% with an effective field goal percentage of 48.0%.

Rebounding: The Bulldogs average 34.3 rebounds per game, with an offensive rebound percentage of 23.3% and a defensive rebound percentage of 74.0%.

Injuries:

Both teams are relatively healthy going into the game, with no significant injuries to report.

Betting Trends:

According to OddsShark, UCLA is currently a 17.5 point favorite over UNC Asheville with an over/under set at 134.5. In terms of betting trends, UCLA has covered the spread in 65.5% of games where they were favored this season, while UNC Asheville has covered the spread in only 45.5% of games where they were underdogs.

Public Betting Data:

As of the time of writing, public betting data from multiple sportsbooks shows that 63% of bets are currently being placed on UCLA to cover the spread. Additionally, 62% of bets are being placed on the over.

Prediction:

Based on the stats and trends, it's clear that UCLA is the stronger team in this matchup. They have a higher-ranked offense and defense and have covered the spread in a majority of their games where they were favored this season. UNC Asheville, on the other hand, has struggled in some areas, including rebounding and turnovers.

With that said, the 17.5 point spread seems a bit high, especially for a tournament game where anything can happen. UNC Asheville has a strong offense and has been playing well recently, winning 9 out of their last 10 games. While they may not be able to pull off an upset win, they have a good chance of keeping the game within the spread.

Pick: UNC Asheville +17.5.