The 7-vs-10 matchup in the Midwest Region might be one of the most intriguing games in the Round of 64. UCLA from the Big Ten is facing upset-minded Utah State from the Mountain West Conference. 10-seed upsets over 7-seed have been common in recent years. There have been five of these upsets in the last four years. Can the Aggies add themselves to that list?
UCLA is entering this game after a loss to Wisconsin in the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The Bruins were able to get through a tough stretch in the middle of the season to get here. UCLA was able to compile a respectable 13-7 conference record in the first season of their affiliation with the Big Ten
For Utah State, the Aggies started the season hot. The team racked up 16 wins in their first 18 games. Since that stretch, they've been mostly on and off. In the conference tournament, Utah State was able to take down UNLV in the Quarterfinals. Unfortunately, they would fall to the Colorado State Rams in the Semifinals. Here is what you need to know for this matchup.
How to watch UCLA vs. Utah State
Date: Thursday, March 20 Time: 9:25 PM ET Venue: Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky How to Watch (TV): TNT Streaming: fubo TV UCLA Record: 22-10 Utah State Record: 26-7
UCLA vs. Utah State odds, spread, and total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Moneyline
UCLA -210 Utah State +172
Spread
UCLA -5.5 (-105) Utah State +5.5 (-115)
Total
142.5 (over -115/under -105)
UCLA injury report
Christian Horry, G: Questionable Eric Freeny, G: Out (redshirt) Devin Willams, F: Out (redshirt) Evan Manjikian, F: Questionable (arm) Brandon Williams, G: Out (redshirt)
Utah State injury report
N/A
UCLA and Utah State series history
UCLA all-time record vs. Utah State: 8-5
UCLA vs. Utah State Prediction
UCLA definitely has the edge in this matchup when you consider the play styles of both teams. For the Bruins, there's not a true go-to-scored on this roster. The three leading scorers on the team are forwards Tyler Bilodeau (13.6 PPG) and Eric Dailey (11.6 PPG), as well as sophomore guard Sebastian Mack (10 PPG).
This team ranks 35th in offensive efficiency but their glaring weakness is that they don't shoot much from beyond the arc. The Bruins rank 258th in 3-point attempts but they shoot at a respectable 35.2 percent. UCLA does have a deep rotation of up to nine players. They might have a tough time keeping up with a high-powered offense but they hang their hat on defense.
UCLA ranks 17th this season in defensive efficiency. One of their big strengths on that end is that they only allow their opponents to shoot 33.2 percent from 3-point range. This is imperative to know because Utah State jacks up tons of 3-pointers. The Aggies have a trio of terrific shooters in Ian Martinez, Mason Falslev, and Dexter Akanno.
Martinez leads the team, averaging 16.8 points per contest. Falslev is shooting nearly 41 percent from beyond the arc. Usually, teams that prefer to rip nets from downtown run the risk of going cold for long stretches. Teams from the Mountain West have fizzled in the NCAA Tournament in the past due to this. It'll hit Utah State hard against UCLA's tough perimeter defense.
Also, the Aggies can guard. They rank 149th in the country in defensive efficiency. This is the case despite having solid defenders on the team such as Falslev (2.3 SPG). UCLA has done a great job at limiting their mistakes. If they can take care of the ball and slow the pace down, they'll avoid the upset. Expect them to do so.
UCLA Bruins
Utah State Aggies