UCLA vs. USC Women: Picks, Predictions and Odds

The top-ranked UCLA Bruins, sporting a perfect 23-0 record, including 11-0 in Big Ten play, head about 20 minutes east to the Galen Center to face rival and No. 6 USC.

The Bruins are in the midst of a magical season after having reached the Sweet 16 under 14th-year coach Cori Close the last two years.

The Bruins, the lone remaining undefeated team in the country, are 6-0 on the road in Big Ten play. The team is currently a half game ahead of the Trojans, who are 21-2 overall and 11-1 in Big Ten. 

UCLA already ended defending national champion South Carolina’s 43-game win streak with a 15-point victory, and the Bruins have also defeated ranked Ohio State, Maryland, Louisville, Michigan, and Baylor squads.  

Close’s squad won at Oregon, 62-52, on Sunday when Londynn Jones led the team with 21 points, while Lauren Betts added nine points and six rebounds.  

USC has made two straight NCAA Tournament appearances and reached its first Elite Eight in 30 years last season. With All-America JuJu Watkins and fellow standout Kiki Iriafen, the team is poised to take the next step.

Iriafen had 24 points and 13 rebounds while Watkins added 17 points and 10 rebounds and Kennedy Smith chipped in with 13 points and 13 rebounds as the Trojans hammered No. 8 Ohio State at home Saturday, 84-63.

The two teams split last year’s games, both winning at home in their last year in the Pac-12.

Read UCLA vs. USC Women how to watch, streaming, start time, stats on site.

UCLA vs. USC betting picks and predictions

USC ML (+110)

Betts (19.6 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.9 bpg) has been a force all season, but is currently somewhat dormant. She only had 34 combined points in the last three games after averaging more than 20 points a game in the previous 10 contests, including a 33-point outburst in a 15-point win over then-No. 8 Maryland.

Kiki Rice (12.7 ppg) and Gabriela Jacquez (10.3) are the only other Bruins averaging in double figures, but Jones has come on of late, averaging 11 points per game in the team’s last five contests.

The Trojans are 11-1 at home this season and Watkins continues to be electric. She is averaging 23.9 points per game, good for fifth in the nation, to go with 6.7 rebounds.

Iriafen is going for 18 points and 8.4 rebounds as the team is ninth in the country with 83.2 points per game. 

Watkins was unstoppable in both matchups with UCLA last year. She averaged 29.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, including 31 points in a 73-65 win at home.

That was the Bruins’ first defeat of the 2023-24 campaign and the Trojans are in position to end UCLA’s undefeated run for the second season in a row.

Over 139.5 Points (-110)

With Watkins at the helm, the Trojans are a high-scoring machine but UCLA are no slouches either, averaging 80.6 points a game, good for 14th in the country.

It appears to be unlikely that this top-10 matchup, in front of a packed Galen Center, won’t elicit a high octane performance from both squads.

The Trojans have totalled over 139.5 points with their opponents in four straight games, while the Bruins have played under that number in their last three matchups, but their rivals weren’t on the floor with them.

Look for this matchup to play to the over on 139.5 points

Read more betting picks and predictions for College Basketball on site.

UCLA vs. USC odds

UCLA	-130 ML
USC	+110 ML
Spread	UCLA -2.5
Total	O/U 139.5

Read the latest College Basketball news on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.