Eastern Washington vs UCLA gameday guide and prediction

UCLA opens the 2025-2026 college basketball season tonight with a non-conference game versus Eastern Washington. UCLA comes into this season with highly touted transfer in Donovan Dent and a very balanced lineup. This team is going to shoot the ball very well and score a lot of points this season.

If UCLA wants to make a run in the Big Ten, they will need to establish dominance early in the season. Just because you’re playing inferior opponents doesn’t mean you need to play down to them. Put your foot on the pedal and keep it on the pedal. This team is far better than Eastern Washington and need to show that.

Opening up the season at home is always huge. You get to show the home crowd the excitement that has built up and the new lineup Mick Cronin and staff have built. UCLA is built to win now. A lot of these guys will not be here next year, so now is the time. March Madness deep run is the goal for this team.

We expect UCLA to open the season hot and take control of this game early. Eastern Washington can score the ball, but they also struggle on defense and have played nowhere near an opponent like UCLA. They gave up more points than they scored last season while going 10-22. The Bruins will seize full advantage of this matchup and be able to integrate the bench guys in the second half.

Dan Monson struggled as head coach in his first season at Eastern Washington. He does have history playing against UCLA as the head coach of Long Beach State. But just like the previous eight matchups the Bruins will be too much to handle. Eastern Washington will also be without their best player from last season in Andrew Cook for the season. Making matters worse.

Prediction: UCLA 91 - Eastern Washington 60 (UCLA covers -29.5 and point total goes over 149.5)