Oscar Cluff is right where he wanted to be after transferring from South Dakota State to the Purdue Boilermakers.
The senior center has Purdue one win away from the Big Ten title game and boasts a major advantage against the UCLA Bruins in Saturday’s semifinal matchup.
My Purdue vs. UCLA predictions expect Cluff to attack the Bruins at the rim, and my college basketball picks are taking him to top his points total one more time this Saturday, March 14.
Purdue vs UCLA prediction
Purdue vs UCLA best bet: Oscar Cluff Over 9.5 points (-125)
I bet Purdue Boilermakers center Oscar Cluff to go Over his scoring prop (8.5) in the win over Nebraska last night, and while he was stuck at eight points for most of the game, he finished with 12 on 6-for-8 shooting.
Four of those points came from offensive putbacks. Even before Tyler Bilodeau went down, the UCLA Bruins had issues keeping foes from the offensive glass. Michigan State grabbed 16 offensive boards for 23 second-chance points.
The 6-foot-11, 255-pound Cluff is too much for the Bruins' four-guard rotation. He’ll score in the paint, on putbacks, and at the foul line.
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Purdue vs UCLA same-game parlay
The Bruins have been excellent lately, but losing Bilodeau hurts. Purdue, on the other hand, finally looks like the team that was voted Preseason No. 1. Game models give the Boilermakers a ticket to the tournament title game.
Projections sit at 12+ points for Cluff. He’s gone for 10 or more in three straight games and Purdue has made a focused effort to feed the big man the past two games. UCLA’s remaining forwards are too small to handle him and he’ll likely get his share of foul shots.
The Bruins weren’t a great rebounding team to begin with and now lost their beefiest rebounder. Cluff will have plenty of uncontested defensive boards and bonus rebounds on the offensive end.
Purdue vs UCLA SGP
- Purdue moneyline
- Oscar Cluff Over 9.5 points
- Oscar Cluff Over 8.5 rebounds
Our beyond the arc SGP: Cluff has the stuff
I cashed in a similar parlay for +775 in yesterday’s game versus Nebraska, and love the matchup for Cluff even more against the shorthanded and short-statured Bruins.
Purdue vs UCLA SGP
- Purdue -7.5
- Oscar Cluff Over 9.5 points
- Oscar Cluff Over 8.5 rebounds
- Oscar Cluff Over 1.5 assists
Purdue vs UCLA odds
- Spread: Purdue -7.5 | UCLA +7.5
- Moneyline: Purdue -315 | UCLA +255
- Over/Under: Over 147.5 | Under 147.5
Purdue vs UCLA betting trend to know
Purdue has gone Over the total in 13 of its last 20 games (+5.30 Units/24% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Purdue vs. UCLA.
How to watch Purdue vs UCLA
| Location | United Center, Chicago, IL |
| Date | Saturday, March 14, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | CBS |
Purdue vs UCLA 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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