The Washington Huskies and the UCLA Bruins meet for the second time this season on Thursday. Will the Huskies shock the college basketball world with an upset win? Or will UCLA come away with a win to prevent a three-game skid? Check out our preview of this Washington vs UCLA matchup in the 2022-23 NCAA basketball season. There are more college basketball previews to read here at TopBet, so feel free to look around and make bets once you’re ready.
The Huskies did not have a very good weekend, as they just got crushed last Saturday by the Arizona Wildcats in a 95-72 home loss. That was Washington’s seventh loss in Pac-12 play and just second in its last six games. Nevertheless, Washington saw leading scorer Keion Brooks put on a show himself, scoring 25 points on 10/17 shooting from the floor. The hope is that Brooks will carry that form into the rematch against UCLA. Brooks only had six points on 1/7 shooting when the Huskies lost to the Bruins at home, 74-49, on Jan. 1. Braxton Meah had 20 points and seven rebounds in the first meeting with UCLA. The Huskies are averaging just 69.9 points per game this season, but have scored at least 75 points in three of their last six outings.
Washington is 5-3 against the spread in its last eight games.
UCLA is also coming off a loss last Saturday, with the Bruins absorbing a 77-64 defeat at the hands of the USC Trojans on the road. Prior to that, the Bruins also lost to Arizona in Tucson, 58-52, on Jan. 21. The Bruins’ offense has simply gone quieter of late, but they should be able to find ways to score lots of buckets versus Washington, a team UCLA had already taken down earlier this season. In that game, the Bruins got four of their starters scoring in double figures each. As a team, the Bruins also shot 9/23 from deep. But it was really their defense that is carrying them this season.
UCLA, which is allowing just 60.6 points per game this season, is 3-1 against the spread in its last four outings as the home team.
