A spot in the semifinals is up for grabs Friday afternoon as Wisconsin and UCLA face off for the second time this season.
UCLA's 85-83 victory over Wisconsin back on January 21 turned out to be a major difference maker when it came to the Big Ten Tournament. The head-to-head victory gave UCLA the 4-seed, and subsequently, a coveted double bye in the Big Ten Tournament on the other hand. The 5-seeded Badgers instead had to face off Northwestern on Thursday in the 2nd round just to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Nonetheless, the tilt between Wisconsin and UCLA will be a game to watch in what is set to be an action-packed friday Friday in College Basketball. Both teams will hear their names called on selection Sunday, and keeping their Big Ten Championship hopes alive will take center stage in this matchup between Big Ten heavyweights.
How to watch Wisconsin vs UCLA
Date: Friday, March 14
Time: 2:30pm ET
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
How to Watch (TV): Big Ten Network
Streaming: fubo TV
Wisconsin Record: 24-8 (13-7)
UCLA Record: 22-9 (13-7)
Wisconsin vs UCLA odds, spread and total
Odds provided by Fanduel Sportsbook
Moneyline
- Wisconsin -113
- UCLA -106
Spread
- Wisconsin +1.5 (-104)
- UCLA: -1.5 (-118)
Total
141.5 (over -110/under -110)
Wisconsin and UCLA series history
Wisconsin all-time record vs UCLA: 0-2 (.000 win percentage)
Wisconsin vs. UCLA prediction
UCLA narrowly escaped Wisconsin in Pauley Pavillion a little under two months ago. But this time around, they'll be playing on a neutral site without the home court advantage they had last time around. At a first glance, it appears as though momentum is on the side of the Bruins entering this one. UCLA has won three of their last four entering this matchup, while the Badgers, who have been dealing with some injuries, had lost three of their five entering the Big Ten Tournament.
But Wisconsin appears to be getting healthy at the right time. Guard Max Klesmit and forward Nolan Winter, who had missed some time recently with injuries, were back in the Badger starting five in Thursday's 70-63 win versus Northwestern. It's great news for a Wisconsin team that is looking to get healthy at the right time and build some momentum of their own heading into the big dance.
All things considered, this should be a tightly contested game that should come down to the wire. Both teams are healthy and will be fighting for a protected seed in the NCAA Tournament. UCLA looked extremely impressive their last time out, soundly defeating UCLA at home 90-63 to clinch a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament. If that is a sign of things to come, UCLA could be a very tough out in this tournament. I think UCLA earns a hard-fought victory in this one and moves on to the semifinals in a matchup with either 1-seeded Michigan State or former Pac-12 foe Oregon.
UCLA Bruins
Wisconsin Badgers