Southern California Trojans at UCLA Bruins
Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 10:00 pm Eastern, TV: Pac 12 Network
Pauley Pavilion – Los Angeles, California
Opening Line: UCLA -9 1/2
Current Line: UCLA -8
Opening Total: 144 1/2
Current Total: 143
Opening Money Line: UCLA -525 / USC +415
Current Money Line: UCLA -400 / USC +325
The 16-5 UCLA Bruins are 6-2 in the Pac 12. The Bruins are in second place in the Pac 12 right now behind 7-0 Oregon and just ahead of 5-2 Arizona and Arizona St. UCLA hosts crosstown rival USC Wednesday. The 8-13 Trojans are 3-5 in the Pac 12 and in 9th place in the conference.
UCLA leads the series 132-104 against USC. The Bruins have won 4 straight against the Trojans including all three games last year. UCLA won 55-40 in the first round of the Pac 12 tournament last year at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
USC fired coach Kevin O’Neill. Bob Cantu is the interim coach. The Trojans have key wins over Long Beach St, Texas in the Maui Invitational, Dayton, Stanford, and Oregon St and a road win at Utah. Southern Cal has losses to Illinois and Marquette in Maui, at home against San Diego St, Minnesota, UC-Irvine, California and Oregon, along with road losses at Nebraska, New Mexico, Georgia, Colorado Arizona St and Arizona 74-50 Saturday. The Trojans are 7-12-1 ATS and the total is 10-6 this season.
USC is being outscored 67-65 this season. The Trojans are shooting 42.6% from the field and 34.6% from 3 point range. USC makes 66% of their free throws. The Trojans average 34.9 rebounds per game, and they give up 32 per game. USC opponents are shooting 41.7% from the field and 36.5% from 3 point range. The Trojans average 13 assists, 6 steals, 5 blocks, and 14 turnovers a game.
Forward Eric Wise averages 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1 steal a game. Guard J.T. Terrell averages 10.2 points, and 1.8 rebounds per game. Guard Byron Wesley averages 10 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Guard Jio Fontan averages 9.2 points, 4.5 assists. and 1.7 rebounds per game. Center Omar Oraby averages 6.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. Forward Dewayne Dedmon averages 6.4 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal per game. He is questionable with the flue Wednesday night. Aaron Fuller and Chass Bryan also get significant minutes.
UCLA is coached by Ben Howland. The Bruins have losses to Georgetown in Brooklyn, at home against Cal Poly and Oregon, to San Diego St in Anaheim and Arizona St 78-60 Saturday. The Bruins have lost 2 of their last 3 games after a 10 game winning streak. 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 Oregon St, and at Utah, Colorado and Arizona St. UCLA is 8-12 ATS and the total is 6-8 this season.
UCLA is outscoring teams 77-69 this season. The Bruins are #23 in scoring. UCLA is #29 in field goal percentage at 46.9% from the field and 34% from 3 point range. UCLA makes 71.3% of their free throws. The Bruins average 38.3 rebounds and give up 34.1 per game. Bruin opponents are shooting 41.5% from the field and 31.9% 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 4.8 rebounds a game. The freshman missed the first 3 games of the season due to being ineligible, but has been sensational since then. He is questionable with an illness. Guard Jordan Adams averages 15.3 points, 4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Forward Travis Wear averages 12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. He is questionable with a concussion. Guard Kyle Anderson averages 9.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.7 steals. Guard Norman Powell averages 7.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Forward David Wear averages 7.4 points, and 4.8 rebounds per game. Guard Larry Drew II averages 6.2 points, 8 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Guard Nick Kazemi hasn’t played yet this season, and is out indefinitely with a knee injury.
USC is 16-36-1 ATS overall, 2-5-1 in Wednesday games, 5-13-1 after failing to cover, 7-19 against Pac 12 teams, 8-22-1 against teams with winning records, 7-21-1 after a straight up loss, 3-9-1 in road games against teams with winning home records, and 2-8-1 in road games. The road team is 10-4 ATS in this series recently.
UCLA is 4-1 ATS at home against teams with losing road records, 5-2 in Wednesday games, and 2-5-1 against teams with losing records. The favorite is 4-1 ATS in this series recently and the under is 4-1 at UCLA recently.
If both Muhammad and Wear are out, htat certainly lessens UCLA chances to win. USC Is not very good this year though, I like UCLA to win but the Trojans keep it close.
