The UCLA Bruins face the tough task of finding their groove against the formidable No. 4 Purdue Boilermakers at Pauley Pavilion tonight.
Mick Cronin’s squad lacks a defensive interior presence, which could be a problem against Purdue’s nationally top-ranked offense.
That could open the door for big man Oscar Cluff, as highlighted in my Purdue vs. UCLA predictions and college basketball picks for Tuesday, January 20.
Purdue vs UCLA prediction
Purdue vs UCLA best bet: Oscar Cluff Over 10.5 points (-112)
The UCLA Bruins have fallen short of expectations this season, with much of the blame falling on Mick Cronin’s roster management.
Michigan State transfer Xavier Booker was never built to be a full-time center, a fact Cronin seemed to acknowledge when Booker played just two minutes in Columbus.
There’s no clear heir, as backup Steven Jamerson II averages only 12.4 minutes per game, while Tyler Bilodeau and Eric Dailey Jr. are better suited as stretch fours. That leaves UCLA without a true interior presence on defense — a weakness the Purdue Boilermakers are ready to exploit.
Center Oscar Cluff has been a steady hand for the Boilermakers, averaging 12.2 points per game on a team-leading 76.3% effective field goal percentage. The 6-foot-11 Australian should feast in the paint against a center-less Bruins roster, so I’m backing him to have a big night in the paint.
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Purdue vs UCLA same-game parlay
This is a tricky spot for Purdue, which is playing the second leg of its SoCal road trip after narrowly avoiding an upset against USC three days ago. The Boilermakers are just 1–6 ATS in games away from West Lafayette.
Purdue still leads the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency (per KenPom) and will score its share, but UCLA’s center-less style should help push this into a high-scoring affair.
Purdue vs UCLA SGP
- Oscar Cluff Over 10.5 points
- Over 147
- UCLA +5.5
Our beyond the arc SGP: Smith Machine
Braden Smith averages 9.4 assists per contest, and this prop correlates well with the full game Over and the Cluff points prop.
Purdue vs UCLA SGP
- Oscar Cluff Over 10.5 points
- Braden Smith Over 9.5 assists
- Over 147
- UCLA +5.5
Purdue vs UCLA odds
- Spread: Purdue -5.5 (-110) | UCLA +5.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Purdue -245 | UCLA +200
- Over/Under: Over 147.5 (-110) | Under 147.5 (-110)
Purdue vs UCLA betting trend to know
Oscar Cluff has exceeded 10.5 points in three of his last five games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Purdue vs. UCLA.
How to watch Purdue vs UCLA
| Location | Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date | Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Peacock |
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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