UCLA vs. Kentucky Prediction and Odds for Saturday, December 17 (Bruins Stay Hot, Beat Wildcats)

UCLA is fresh off one of the most impressive results of the young college basketball season, winning 87-60 at Maryland on Wednesday.

Now, the Bruins look to follow that win up with another impressive victory, this time against Kentucky on a neutral court. The Wildcats recently were in London, where they knocked off Michigan, and then returned home last week to beat Yale by 10. Kentucky is still looking for a signature win, will it come against UCLA on Saturday?

Here are the odds for this battle of Blue Bloods.

UCLA vs. Kentucky Odds, Spread and Total

UCLA vs. Kentucky Prediction and Pick

This is a tough matchup for Kentucky, who relies on their bruising big men such as reigning National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe, but the Bruins ability to space the floor and pull the Wildcats big men away from the rim can pose issues.

UCLA is intent on getting the ball inside, fourth in the country in percentage of points generated on two-point shots at nearly 63% and the team's ability to attack off the bounce with all five players can give Kentucky fits.

Keep an eye on forwards Jaylen Clark and Jaime Jaquez to take advantage of the likes of Tshiebwe and Jacob Toppin while Kentucky will struggle to generate interior looks against a compact UCLA defense that allows 42% of opponent's shots from beyond the arc. Kentucky also likes to get the ball inside, they are 291st in three-point rate, but they lack the ball handlers to generate sound offense unlike Bruins' point guard Tyger Campbell.

We are still waiting to see the elite version of Kentucky, and I'm not sure that this matchup sets up well for them to showcase that. Give me the Bruins to win by a bucket.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.