UCLA vs UConn Prediction, Picks & Odds for Sunday's March Madness Game

Jason Logan: Senior Betting Analyst at Covers
Jason Logan • Senior Betting Analyst 21+ years betting experience
Updated: Mar 21, 2026 , 04:28 PM ET • 4 min read

Dan Hurley and Mick Cronin are two of the more intense coaches in college hoops and that translates to the floor, where the Huskies and Bruins tighten up on defense and slow down scoring in the Round of 32.

NCAAB

Match starts: 27 hrs
UCLA
45 %
CONN
55 %
EXPERT PICK - TOTAL
u136.5 (-116)
Read Analysis
Dan Hurley UConn Huskies NCAAB
Photo By - Reuters Connect. UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts n the first half during a first round game.

I have an alternative solution for the rising price of oil. 

What if we powered everything on the collective rage surging from the sidelines when the No. 2 UConn Huskies face the No. 7 UCLA Bruins in the Round of 32?

Respective head coaches Dan Hurley and Mick Cronin are tiny bald balls of hate and among the most intense leaders in all of college hoops.

Our UCLA vs. UConn predictions see that fury trickling down through their teams when the ball goes up on Sunday. My March Madness picks believe points will be at a premium in Philadelphia.

UCLA vs UConn prediction

Who will win UCLA vs UConn?

UCLA: This is a tough one. My bracket has the UCLA Bruins advancing but that all depends on the status of Bruins big man Tyler Bilodeau (questionable). If he plays, it helps UCLA out on both ends of the floor against a burly UConn Huskies squad.

UCLA vs UConn best bet: Under 136.5 (-116)

Both UCLA and UConn thrive in the half-court, playing with patience that ticks deep into the shot clock.

There’s a ton of motion, away screens and off-ball movement, which takes time to set up. Neither is an explosive 3-point attack, nor do they thrive on fastbreaks or tempo.

There are injuries to watch for each team: UCLA big Tyler Bilodeau and UConn guard Silas Demary Jr

While these guys can score, I believe they have a bigger impact on defense, considering the matchups. Bilodeau helps handle the Huskies’ size and Demary deals with the Bruins’ talented backcourt.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Sub-140 totals were 1-5 Over/Under through the first two days of the NCAA Tournament. Going back to last year’s Big Dance, sub-140 totals have gone Under in 13 of 18 games.

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UCLA vs UConn same-game parlay

Trent Perry is a constant green light on offense. The ball goes in. It doesn’t come back out. He can get to the rim and knock it down from outside. He’s scored 15 or more in three straight outings.

Alex Karaban could be a problem on the glass in Bilodeau doesn’t play. He’s often crashing the offensive boards from the outside, which makes him tough to box out.

UCLA vs UConn SGP

  • Under 136.5
  • Trent Perry Over 13.5 oints
  • Alex Karaban Over 5.5 rebounds

Our Big Dance SGP: California Roll

The Bruins backcourt duo of Perry and Donovan Dent is dangerous and keeps UCLA in a close contest with Connecticut.

UCLA vs UConn SGP

  • UCLA +4.5
  • Under 136.5
  • Trent Perry Over 13.5
  • Donovan Dent Over 7.5 assists

UCLA vs UConn odds

  • Spread: UCLA +4.5 | UConn -4.5
  • Moneyline: UCLA +165 | UConn -200
  • Over/Under: Over 136 | Under 136

UCLA vs UConn betting trend to know

UConn has covered the spread in just six of its last 20 games (-9.40 Units/-43% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for UCLA vs. UConn.

How to watch UCLA vs UConn

Location Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date Sunday, March 22, 2026
Tip-off 8:45 p.m. ET
TV TNT

UCLA vs UConn key injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Jason Logan Senior Industry Analyst Covers.com
Senior Betting Analyst

In his 20 years with Covers, lead NFL betting analyst Jason Logan has seen it all and bet it all. Through the wild west of early Internet gambling to lobbying for legalized sports betting to our brave new wagering world, Jason has been a consistent source of actionable info and entertainment for squares and sharps alike.

Since joining the Covers team back in 2005, he honed his handicapping skills to provide audiences with the most thorough insights, blending traditional capping methods with advanced modelling and predictive analysis. Jason has studied the ins and outs of the sports betting business, learning from some of the most successful gamblers in the industry and the biggest sportsbook operators on the planet.

He is under center for Covers during NFL season as our top NFL expert, taking the points in his infamous NFL Underdogs column and representing the Covers Community at the Super Bowl. While he lives for football season, Jason's first love is basketball and that shows in his in-depth NBA, NCAA, and WNBA betting breakdowns.

On top of being a mainstay in media from coast to coast at stations like WPIX, PHL17, Fox 5 San Diego, WGNO, TSN, SportsNet, ESPN Radio, Jason's analysis has also been featured in USA Today, MSNBC, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, CBS, Bloomberg, the L.A. Times, the New York Times and other major publications. You can also find JLo stuffing all the top picks and predictions he can into 10 minutes as the host of Covers' flagship podcast, The Sharp 600.

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