Pac 12 Thursday Play

UCLA -13.5    over    Oregon State    …………..2 units

UCLA (14-3 SU) (7-9 ATS) (10-1 home) takes on Oregon State (10-6 SU) (5-7 ATS)
(1-0 away).

I like the fact that Oregon State has played only one true away game back on Dec. 12 against instate rival Portland State a win 79-74, so this is really their first true road game after starting practice back in late October. Note they did play a few neutral site games back in Nov.

Oregon State padded their win loss columns greatly during the month of December with the likes of Grambling , Portland State, Chicago State and Howard. Townson State one of the early cup cakes came to Oregon State and walked away with a victory in OT 67-66. So once the conference slate started I do not feel that Oregon was ready for  stronger D 1 programs like they encountered. Now they are in a true road conference game, against a quality opponent in the newly refurbished Pauley Pavilion.

Here are two teams going in opposite directions. Ben Howland has the Bruins
playing good ball and three of UCLA's best players are freshmen, Jordan Adams, Kyle Anderson and Shabazz Muhammad. They are meshing well with the Wear Twins and point guard Larry Drew.

UCLA comes back home after picking up two road wins over Utah by 4 and Colorado by 3….
whereas Oregon State has lost 3 straight at home losing to Arizona by 10, Arizona State by 10 and in state arch rival Oregon by 13.

Oregon State is just getting over a bit of controversy with the suspensions of key players Eric Moreland and Victor Robbins a few days back. They both should be back for this game but it still creates another distraction in my favor. Eric Moreland will surely be needed in tonight's game as he stands 6-foot-10 and is second in the Pac-12 with 11.1 rebounds a game and averages 10.8 points.

I feel that I will gain the big edge that I need in 3 point shooting  and FT% because in Oregon State's only road game against Portland State they shot 16.7 % from the 3 point line and 66.7 FT% and had only 24 defensive rebounds.

I think that they will shoot poorly in Pauley Pavilion tonight because of the lack of true road games and this will play a major factor in my getting the cover.

My Pick
UCLA -13.5            ……………. 2 units
GLTA