NCAA Basketball Picks: Stanford Cardinal vs UCLA Bruins
Thursday, February 09, 2012
by Mike Stewart
Stanford Cardinal has lost four of its last five games, virtually ending its hopes for the Pac-12 regular-season title. The Cardinal, which is tied for sixth in the Pac-12 with UCLA Bruins, needed a blocked shot in the final seconds to hold off the Bruins earlier this season. UCLA finally notched its second road win of the season last game and has seemingly got enigmatic center Josh Smith on the right path. Smith has led the Bruins in scoring the last two games averaging 21.5 points.
- Stanford Cardinal @ UCLA Bruins
When: 11:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 9, 2012
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California
TV: ET, Prime Ticket (FSN)
The Bruins have opened as 7-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
UCLA Bruins (13-10): The Bruins have won three of the last four games in the series and nine of the last 11. In the first meeting this season, UCLA guard Lazeric Jones had a 3-pointer blocked at the buzzer. Jones was in the midst of a career game with 26 points. The Bruins defeated Washington State last game 63-60 getting 19 points from Smith on 8-of-9 shooting. UCLA played without forward Travis Wear, who suffered a high ankle sprain in last week’s loss at Washington. He is questionable for Thursday’s contest and has been severely limited in practice. The Bruins are 10-3 at home this season.
Stanford Cardinal (16-7): Once the leaders in the Pac-12, the Cardinal have fallen on hard times through the most difficult portion of their schedule. Stanford lost at conference heavyweights California and Washington and was throttled by Arizona at home last game. Cardinal coach Johnny Dawkins isn’t blaming things on the defense, which he called the best in the three years since he’s been there. The offense, on the other hand, has been a wreck. The Cardinal shot only 26 percent from the floor last game, its lowest at Maples Pavilion in 26 years.
1. UCLA won 68-57 at home last season.
2. The Bruins are shooting only 65 percent from the free throw line in conference play. Guard Norman Powell hasn’t gone to the line in a Pac-12 game.
3. Stanford is averaging 58.5 points in its last four losses.
Bet on NCAA College Basketball games with SBG Global Sportsbook
Related Articles
- NCAA Prediction: Washington State Cougars and UCLA Bruins
- NCAA Betting Odds: UCLA Bruins and Arizona Wildcats
- College Hoops Betting Odds: Richmond Spiders at UCLA Bruins
- College Hoops Betting Odds: UC-Irvine Anteaters at UCLA Bruins
- NCAA Tournament PAC-12 Odds: Arizona Wildcats Host UCLA Bruins
Category
Tags
johnny dawkins - josh smith - lazeric jones - los angeles memorial sports arena - norman powell - stanford cardinal - travis wear - ucla bruins
Proud member of the