NCAA Betting Prediction: Eastern Washington Eagles at UCLA Bruins
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Frank Martin
UCLA Bruins began the post- Reeves Nelson era with a 77-73 win over Penn on Saturday. Nelson was kicked off the team for insubordination. When focused, Nelson was one of the best players in the Pac-12 and a legitimate NBA prospect.
But UCLA coach Ben Howland didn’t want to deal with the moody junior the rest of the way clearly sent a message to his struggling team with the dismissal.
Eastern Washington Eagles enters the game already 0-2 against Pac-12 teams. The Eagles haven’t won on the road, but UCLA has hardly had an advantage at the L.A. Sports Arena, its home away from home this season.
- Eastern Washington Eagles @ UCLA Bruins
When: 10:30 PM ET, Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET; Fox Sports West.
The Bruins have opened as 9.5-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Eastern Washington Eagles (5-4): The Eagles have lost at Pac-12 teams Oregon and Washington State. They’ve also lost at Gonzaga when the Bulldogs were in the Top 25. Facing an easier slate, EWU is 3-0 at home. Collin Chiverton (team-high 17.4 points per game) and Cliff Colimon combined for 49 points in Eastern Washington’s last game, a 91-76 loss at Cal-State Fullerton. The Eagles have an RPI rating of 148 and strength of schedule of 230. First-year coach Jim Hayford has the Eagles averaging nearly 75 points a game.
UCLA Bruins (3-5): The Bruins haven’t played a true road game this season and are just 2-5 against Division I teams. Guard Lazeric Jones has led the team in scoring the past three games, but offense really hasn’t been the Bruins’ biggest problem. UCLA ranks near the bottom of the entire NCAA Division I in field-goal defense both from inside and beyond the 3-point arc. While UCLA's defense seemed a bit better last game, Penn’s Tyler Bernardini managed to hit eight 3-pointers and score 29 points. Jones is averaging 12.6 points and has made 11 3-pointers.
1. UCLA is 1-3 at the L.A. Sports Arena this season.
2. Eastern Washington was picked sixth in the Big Sky preseason conference poll.
3. Nelson led the Pac-10 in rebounding last season and finished fourth in scoring.
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Bruins 71, Eagles 62
Bet on NCAA College Basketball games with SBG Global Sportsbook, click here!
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ben howland - cliff colimon - cliff colimon - collin chiverton - eastern washington eagles - jim hayford - lazeric jones - los angeles memorial sports arena - reeves nelson - tyler bernardini
