Skip to main content

Stanford vs. UCLA Odds, Picks, Predictions College Basketball: Will Bruins Be Cardinal’s Next Upset Victim?

Brenden Schaeffer

Last Updated: February 16, 2023 2:41 PM EST • 2 min 18 sec read.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the UCLA Bruins is introduced before a college basketball game at the Xfinity Center. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images/AFP.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the UCLA Bruins is introduced before a college basketball game at the Xfinity Center. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images/AFP.

After a big win over a highly ranked conference foe, Stanford looks to see whether lightning can strike twice in the same week as the team heads to Los Angeles. Read on for our Stanford vs. UCLA college basketball picks based on the top NCAAB odds.

Stanford (11-14) is coming into Thursday off of its win of the season, but the road doesn’t get any easier for the Cardinal as they face a second consecutive game opposing the No. 4 team in the country.

UCLA (21-4) has risen into the Top 5 this week and will guard against a letdown against a team that has so recently shown the ability to deliver one to a talented opponent.

Here is our best Stanford vs. UCLA college basketball pick (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Check out our best March Madness betting sites.

Stanford vs. UCLA pick

UCLA -13.5 (-110 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The circumstances surrounding Thursday’s game against Stanford at Pauley Pavilion set up a perfect storm for UCLA dominance. The Cardinal are fresh off an exhilarating home upset over No. 4 Arizona in their last game and are 4-6 against the spread after a win so far this season.

Not to disrespect Stanford after its impressive 88-79 handling of the Wildcats on Saturday, but doing it on the road against another elite team with the notion of a hangover performance lingering is a big ask. The line may seem somewhat disrespectful to KenPom’s No. 98 team in the country but the Bruins have already handled the Cardinal, 80-66, at Stanford earlier this season. 

Bruins guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. poured in 27 points in that affair and is coming off a 25-point effort against Oregon. UCLA is KenPom’s No. 3 overall team, ranking second in the nation in defensive efficiency. The Bruins are 8-5 ATS in home games this season and have covered the spread in their last three games as well as in six of their past nine.

Check out our best March Madness odds and Wooden Award odds.

Stanford vs. UCLA best odds

DraftKings (-110)

DraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMCaesarsPointsBet
UCLA -13.5UCLA -13.5UCLA -13.5UCLA -13.5UCLA -13.5
-110-110-110-110-110

The odds and lines are identical across the board as UCLA is favored by 13.5 points with standard -110 odds on the wager. Bettors attacking this line Thursday afternoon are operating from a more advantageous position than when it opened at -14.5. 

With the majority of bets leaning toward the UCLA side, we could see the number push back toward its opening line. This recommendation would only reduce down to a three-star play if the line reverses course and gets to UCLA -15.

Stanford vs. UCLA odds

Stanford vs. UCLA odds analysis

UCLA opened as a 14.5-point home favorite but saw the line drop slightly to -13.5 across the board. Despite the line movement toward Stanford, 58% of wagers have been on UCLA.

The total opened at 131.5 and has seen a minor decrease to between 130.5 and 131 across the board. However, 67% of wagers placed on the total have gone Over.

Stanford vs. UCLA game info

  • Date: Thursday, Feb. 16, 11 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN2
  • Location: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA

Stanford-UCLA pick made 02/16/2023 at 2:15 p.m. ET.

Here are our best March Madness betting sites:

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Related pages

Written By:
Brenden Schaeffer
Since graduating from the University of Missouri in 2016, Brenden Schaeffer has covered the St. Louis Cardinals and Blues hockey as a writer for KMOV in St. Louis. He also co-hosts 'The Big Show' on KTGR radio in Columbia, Missouri. The show airs in afternoon drive, weekdays from 4-6 p.m. Brenden has contributed to SBR since 2021, providing insights on NFL, NCAAF, NCAAB, and the NBA. You can download his daily baseball podcast, B-Schaeff Daily, on Spotify or Apple podcasts, and you can find Brenden across social media @bschaeffer12.