The No. 2 seed UCLA Bruins and the No. 7 seed Northwestern Wildcats link up in a second-round matchup in the 2023 NCAA Tournament on Saturday evening. This is just the second all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament for Northwestern. In 2017, the Wildcats fell to Gonzaga 79-73 in the second round. Meanwhile, UCLA is playing in its third straight Tournament. Last year, the Bruins lost to North Carolina 73-66 in the Sweet 16.
Tipoff from Golden 1 Center in Sacramento is set for 8:40 p.m. ET. The Bruins are 7.5-point favorites in the latest Northwestern vs. UCLA odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 126.5. Before locking in any UCLA vs. Northwestern picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters the 2023 NCAA Tournament 79-53 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,300 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on UCLA vs. Northwestern and revealed its coveted picks and predictions for the NCAA Tournament 2023. You can head to SportsLine to see the picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Northwestern vs. UCLA:
- UCLA vs. Northwestern spread: Bruins -7.5
- UCLA vs. Northwestern over/under: 126.5 points
- UCLA vs. Northwestern money line: Bruins -360, Wildcats +280
- UCLA: The Bruins are 5-0-1 ATS in their last six games overall
- NW: The Wildcats are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 Saturday games
- UCLA vs. Northwestern picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Northwestern can cover
Senior guard Boo Buie is a smooth and athletic scoring option in the backcourt. Buie has the ability to get scores from all three levels and has the strength to absorb contact in the lane. Buie leads the squad in both points (17.3) and assists (4.5). In his last outing against Boise State, the New York native finished with 22 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Senior guard Chase Audige gives the Wildcats another reliable playmaker. Audige has the skill set and vision to break down the defense to create efficient looks. The New York native logs 14 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. In the victory over Boise State, Audige racked up 20 points, six rebounds and four steals.
Why UCLA can cover
Guard Jaylen Clark (Achilles) is out the Bruins, so they'll look for others to step up on both ends of the floor. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell are seasoned NCAA Tournament veterans. Jaquez averages 17.3 points per game this season, while Campbell averages 13.4.
The Bruins have been solid against the spread this season. They are 21-13-1 ATS overall with a 19-11-1 ATS mark when favored. They've covered in five of their last six overall.
How to make Northwestern vs. UCLA picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 135 points. The model also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins UCLA vs. Northwestern? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.
