NCAA Tournament Prediction: Midwest Region – UCLA vs. Utah State – Thursday, March 20, 2025

The 10th-seed Utah State Aggies (26-7) aim to upset the seventh-seed UCLA Bruins (22-10) in the opening round of the Men’s Basketball Championship (Midwest Region) on Thursday, March 20 at 9:25 PM ET. This showdown will be held at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, where the Bruins are slight favorites with a point spread at -4.5 (-120) at MyBookie.

Utah State Aggies Betting Preview

The Aggies have gone 2-3 in their last five games, coming off an 83-72 loss against the Colorado State Rams in the Semifinal of the Mountain West Championship. This defeat snapped their two-game win streak.

With a 19-point deficit at the half, Utah at least performed better in the second to make this a respectable game on paper. Mason Falslev led with 22 points on 47.3 percent shooting and was one of three players to reach double figures.

Utah State ranks 32nd in the country for points per game at 80.9. Their efficiency per 100 possessions ranks ninth, showing that they take great care of the ball and make the most of their possessions.

On defense, the Aggies rank 118th for allowing 70.0 points each matchup. Their efficiency on this end of the floor each 100 possessions ranks 151st, showing they are about average when it comes to defending. In addition, they rank 49th overall for their strength of schedule and winning margins combined.

UCLA Bruins Betting Preview

The Bruins are 3-2 in their last five matchups and need to get off to a good start in the tournament. They are coming off an 86-70 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal, snapping their two-game win streak.

Wisconsin had a 48-29 lead at the half and continued to shoot strongly from beyond the arc in this matchup. The Bruins did not have an answer on defense, but their offense performed better in the second half. Sebastian Mack led with 18 points, but shot 35.7 percent from the field.

UCLA averages 74.8 points per game and ranks 147th with this output. Their defense ranks 27th since they have allowed 65.7 points a game. This spread is solid, but they must perform better on both ends against stronger teams.

The Bruins are considered to be the 25th-best team overall due to their strength of schedule and winning margins. On offense per 100 possessions, their efficiency ranks 71st while their defense at the same rate ranks 45th.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

MyBookie has you covered with the best Utah State Aggies vs. UCLA Bruins betting odds, as the Bruins are 4.5-point favorites. Market predictions are showing the Bruins as favorites to win with a 62.5 percent chance. The Bruins are appealing to cover the spread, based on their toughness this season and efficiency on both ends of the floor.

Final Pick: UCLA Bruins -4.5 (-120)