The USC Trojans (11-4) will head to the Pauley Pavilion to tackle the (#10) UCLA Bruins (13-2) on Thursday night time.
USC had their seven-game profitable streak snapped by the Washington State Cougars final Sunday. 4 of the 5 Trojan starters scored in double-figures, highlighted by Drew Peterson’s 16 factors and eight rebounds on 44% from the sector. Nevertheless, they bought little manufacturing from the bench, whereas the protection was middling at finest.
WSU shot 48% from deep and turned it over solely 5 occasions. The 81 factors scored by the Cougars had been essentially the most allowed by the Trojans this season.
USC vs. UCLA Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook
UCLA is without doubt one of the hottest groups within the nation, profitable 10 in a row with wins over Kentucky, Maryland, Oregon, and Washington State. As well as, they thumped Washington 74-49 to ring within the new yr.
Two-time All-Pac-12 honoree and main scorer Jaime Jaquez scored 17 factors, whereas four-year starter Tyger Campbell posted a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double. 2022 blue chip prospect Adem Bona additionally had a career-high 19 factors within the win.
ShotQuality Story of the Tape
Beneath, we’ll spotlight important ShotQuality knowledge for this matchup, together with Adjusted Offensive and Defensive SQ, strengths, weaknesses, and frequency. SQppp is a participant’s common ShotQuality factors per possession.
Thus, SQppp = Complete SQpoints/Complete No. of Possessions.
The USC Trojans personal a 1.07 AdjOFF SQ this season, good for 66th within the nation. UCLA has the 4th-best AdjDEF SQ at 0.89. Southern Cal does properly to common in all key stats, however rim and three charge and open three charge, the place they rank within the backside 60 within the nation. Conversely, the Bruins are in the midst of the pack in these key metrics however are within the ninety fifth percentile or worse in spacing and shot-making.
The Trojans personal high-frequency numbers in minimize, isolation, midrange, off-screen, P&R ball display, post-up, and transition shot varieties. They’re within the prime 100 in all these shot varieties. Conversely, the Bruins are within the prime 200 in all these classes besides off-screen and midrange, rating within the backside 75 of the nation.
The Bruins have a 1.13 AdjOFF SQ, the Nineteenth-best mark within the nation. Southern Cal has posted a 0.99 AdjDEF SQ this season, clocking in at 122nd within the nation. The Bruins are within the prime 50 in shot-making and rim and three SQ PPP. The Trojans are within the prime 150 in each these classes.
UCLA is within the nation’s prime half in frequency concerning the next shot varieties: minimize, ending on the rim, midrange, P&R ball display, and transition. They’re eighth in SQ PPP in transition shot varieties. USC is 72nd in defending in transition however 295th in midrange.
USC vs. UCLA Prediction
It is at all times robust to handicap a rivalry recreation, particularly one as distinctive as USC and UCLA. Regardless of being two of the higher groups within the nation, a number of the gamers in tonight’s recreation can be enjoying of their second, third, and even fourth rendition of this common season matchup. Southern Cal is receiving too many factors on this contest to not experience with the Trojans in anticipation that they’ll at the least hold with the Bruins for the whole thing of the sport.
