Predictions, Betting Lines, and Odds for UCLA vs Purdue Basketball Game on Friday, February 28th

• Purdue hosts UCLA at Mackey Arena Friday at 8 p.m. in a Big Ten battle.

• After leading the Big Ten, Purdue has dropped four in a row and fallen into a tie for fourth place. The Boilermakers are 5.5-point favorites at home.

• Check out our look at the best lines, odds and prediction for Friday night’s Big Ten clash.

No. 20 Purdue (19-9, 15-13 ATS) tries to get back in the Big Ten race when it hosts UCLA (20-8, 16-11-1) at Mackey Arena Friday night.

Both teams are in a three-way tie with Maryland for fourth in the Big Ten. The top four teams in the conference receive byes to the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, and you’d rather play three games in three days than four in four.

UCLA has won nine of their last 11 and lead the Big Ten with 8.3 steals a game. This is the first meeting between these two schools since 2000.

I’ve got your full look at UCLA vs Purdue, including the best odds and our prediction.

Boiling Over

Purdue looked like the team to beat in the Big Ten until two weeks ago. They have been ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation, but have lost four in a row, including a stunning 15-point loss to Indiana after holding a 12-point halftime lead.

In the loss to Indiana, Purdue committed 15 turnovers, 11 in the second half. Purdue hasn’t lost four games in a row since the 2019-2020 season, and players held a “Players Only” meeting during the week. Sometimes, that’s a good sign; sometimes, it’s not.

Junior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn has been one of the best players in the Big Ten, averaging 19.2 points for Purdue. Guard Braden Smith is dishing out 8.7 assists a game, but Purdue has some issues defensively. Teams are shooting almost 50 percent against the Boilermakers, which means there are too many easy shots.

La La Land

UCLA has won nine of its last 11 games, and those two losses (to Minnesota and Illinois) are by a combined eight points.

The Bruins are doing it with defense. They rank 21st in the nation, allowing 64.6 points a game, and lead the conference with 8.3 steals.

Offensively, the Bruins aren’t as flashy as they used to be. Tyler Bilodeau, a 6-foot-9 forward leads UCLA with 13.9 points a game. He also made seven threes in a game earlier this month. He’s your typical stretch four. Eric Dailey, a sophomore forward, is second on the team in scoring at 11.6. UCLA also has three different player with over 70 assists.

UCLA vs Purdue Odds

Odds as of Feb. 28 at BetMGM Sportsbook. Be sure to check our Bet MGM review before making a bet on any March Madness contest.

The Boilermakers are 5.5-point favorites at all our favorite sportsbooks. Purdue is 12-2 at home. They have lost their last three games against the spread and are 15-12-1 over/under. The total in this one is 138.5 at most places, but you can get 139 at Caesars.

UCLA is a weak 10-18 over/under (they are a good defensive team) and 6-6 on the road in neutral-site games. They’re also 7-3 in games decided by five points or less.

The best moneyline bet is for UCLA is +205 at DraftKings. For Purdue, its -230 at FanDuel.

UCLA vs Purdue Prediction

• UCLA +5.5 at FanDuel

It’s the team meeting that does it for us. Something is going on at Purdue. Maybe it’s fatigue, but the rest of the Big 10 has figured out something about the Boilermakers. I like UCLA with the points, because even if they don’t win outright, I don’t expect Purdue to win by a lot.

I do have some concerns about the long trip for UCLA, but neither team has played since Sunday, so UCLA should be well-rested. I just think if UCLA puts some pressure on Purdue, the Boilermakers may crack.

The highly anticipated matchup between the UCLA Bruins and the Purdue Boilermakers on Friday, February 28th is sure to be a thrilling game for basketball fans. Both teams have had successful seasons so far, with UCLA boasting a record of 18-11 and Purdue sitting at 16-14.

As the game approaches, many fans and bettors are eager to see how the odds and betting lines stack up for this exciting contest. According to sportsbooks, UCLA is currently favored to win the game by a slim margin, with odds of -120. Purdue, on the other hand, is the underdog with odds of +110.

When it comes to predictions for the game, it’s important to consider both teams’ recent performances and key players. UCLA has been on a hot streak lately, winning six of their last eight games. They are led by star guard Chris Smith, who is averaging 13.1 points per game this season. Purdue, on the other hand, has struggled in recent weeks, losing four of their last six games. However, they have a strong inside presence with big man Trevion Williams, who is averaging 11.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

In terms of betting lines, the over/under for total points scored in the game is set at 140.5. This suggests that oddsmakers are expecting a relatively low-scoring affair between these two teams.

Ultimately, this game is shaping up to be a close and competitive matchup between two talented teams. While UCLA may have the slight edge in terms of odds and recent performance, Purdue has the potential to pull off an upset if they can capitalize on their strengths and exploit any weaknesses in the Bruins’ defense.

As always, it’s important to gamble responsibly and consider all factors before placing any bets on this game. Whether you’re rooting for UCLA or Purdue, one thing is for certain – this game is sure to be a must-watch for college basketball fans everywhere.