The third consecutive day of the NCAA Tournament starts today when the UCLA Bruins and UAB Blazers hit the floor. The game is scheduled for a 12:10 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on CBS. Currently the NCAA Tournament Betting Odds for the game have UCLA favored by a comfortable margin in this one.
Neither UAB or UCLA is supposed to be in this spot. The Blazers were up against Iowa State, a potential Final Four team by many in this bracket, but UAB found a way to get it done. Now they’re into the next round and UCLA stands in the way, the team that wasn’t supposed to get into the tournament at all.
A spot in the Sweet 16 rides on this game today and it certainly would be a nice accomplishment for either team. UCLA has the better overall talent between the two teams but at this point, that might not matter. This is the fifth time in NCAA Tournament history that an 11/14 matchup has happened in this round and the 11th seed has picked up the win in each of the previous four games, which on the surface looks good for UCLA.
The Bruins are in this spot after a controversial goaltending call at the end of the SMU game on Thursday, but the Mustangs still had a couple of shots at the end to win the game. The Bruins were a double-digit seed for just the second time in school history and the win over the Mustangs was the school’s first as a double-digit seed.
UCLA is going to want to get the basketball to Bryce Alford and Norman Powell on the perimeter, with Kevon Looney and Tony Parker bolstering the paint. The Bruins underachieved all season but now have a very nice chance at retribution and a successful campaign.
UAB has now won four straight overall and against Iowa State they shot just 3-of-18 from downtown in the upset. If they shoot better today, the game could be a close one. Robert Brown led them with 21 points over Iowa State, William Lee added 14 points himself. They both need big games today to hang with the Bruins.
Free Pick: UCLA 65, UAB 58
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