Oregon State Beavers at #24 UCLA Bruins
Thursday, January 17, 2013, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPNU
Pauley Pavilion – Los Angeles, California
Opening Line: UCLA -15
Current Line: UCLA -13 1/2
Opening Total: 152
Current Total: 151 1/2
Opening Money Line: UCLA -1400 / OSU +900
Current Money Line: UCLA -1200 / OSU +800
After a disappointing 5-3 start, the UCLA Bruins have won 9 straight games to move to 14-3 and back into the top 25. The Bruins are alsotied for first place in the Pac 12 with Washington at 4-0. Oregon is 3-0. UCLA hosts the 10-6 Oregon St Beavers Thursday night. The Beavers are 0-3 in the Pac 12 and ahead of only 0-5 Utah in the standings.
UCLA leads the series against Oregon St 88-35, including 49-7 in Los Angeles. The Beavers won last year in Corvallis 87-84 to snap a 13 game losing streak against the Bruins. It was the only meeting between the schools. Oregon St hasn’t won at Pauley since 2003.
Oregon St is coached by Craig Robinson. The Beavers have losses to Alabama in New York City, to Kansas in Kansas City, and at home to Towson in overtime, Oregon Arizona St and Arizona 80-70 Saturday . Oregon St has key wins over New Mexico St, Purdue in New York, and San Diego in Las Vegas. Oregon St is 5-7 ATS and the total is 1-6 this season.
Oregon St is outscoring teams 76-69 this season. The Beavers are #43 in scoring nationally. Oregon St is shooting 45.8% from the field and 37.7% from 3 point range. Oregon St makes 65.5% of their free throws. The Beavers are #34 in rebounding with 39.4 per game, and OSU allows 33.2 to opponents. Oregon St opponents are shooting 41.9% from the field and 31.1% from 3 point range. The Beavers are averaging 15 assists, 7 steals, 5 blocks, and 14 steals per game.
Guard Roberto Nelson averages 15.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Forward Devon Collier averages 14.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Ahmad Starks averages 13.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. Joe Burton averages 10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Center Angus Brandt is out for the season with a knee injury. He averaged 11.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1 steal a game. Eric Moreland averages 10.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game. He is suspended indefinitely. Olaf Schaftenaar, Jarmal Reid, and Challe Barton make up the rest of the rotation. Forward Daniel Gomis is also out for the season with a leg injury. He has not played in a game this season. Guard Victor Robbins is also suspended indefinitely.
UCLA is coached by Ben Howland. The Bruins have losses to Georgetown in Brooklyn, at home against Cal Poly, and to San Diego St in Anaheim. The Bruins have key wins over Indiana St, UC-Irvine, James Madison, Georgia in Brooklyn, Texas in Houston, Long Beach St, Fresno St, Missouri, Cal Stanford, and at Utah and Colorado 78-75 Saturday. Not counting neutral site games, the games at Utah and Colorado last week were the first two road games for the Bruins. UCLA is 7-9 ATS and the total is 5-5 this season.
UCLA is outscoring teams 79-68 this season. The Bruins are #21 in scoring. UCLA is #27 in field goal percentage at 47.8% from the field and 34.8% from 3 point range. UCLA makes 71.7% of their free throws. The Bruins average 38.7 rebounds and give up 32.8 per game. UCLA is #45 in rebounding nationally. Bruin opponents are shooting 41.2% from the field and 32.7% from 3 point range. UCLA averages 17 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks, and 11 turnovers per game.
Guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad averages 18.2 points, and 4.9 rebounds a game. The freshman missed the first 3 games of the season due to being ineligible, but has been sensational since then. Guard Jordan Adams averages 16.4 points, 4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Forward Travis Wear averages 12 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. Guard Kyle Anderson averages 9.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. Guard Norman Powell averages 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Forward David Wear averages 7.4 points, and 4.6 rebounds per game. Guard Larry Drew II averages 5.9 points, 8.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. Guard Nick Kazemi hasn’t played yet this season, and is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
Oregon St is 5-2 ATS in road games after playing 3 or more straight home games, 1-4 against Pac 12 teams, 1-5 overall, and 1-6 in Thursday games.
UCLA is 7-2-1 in Pac 12 games, 13-4-1 in Thursday games, and 1-6 in Thursday games. UCLA is 19-7-1 ATS in the last 27 against Oregon St and the Bruins were favored in every one of those games. The Bruins are 6-1 ATS against the Beavers in LA recently.
Oregon St is decimated by injuries and suspensions. UCLA seems to be hitting their stride. I don’t see this game being close. I think UCLA wins easily.
