UCLA Bruins Face Washington Huskies in Crucial Big Ten Showdown

SEATTLE, Wash. — The UCLA Bruins (13-6, 4-4 Big Ten) will clash with the Washington Huskies (10-9, 1-7) in a pivotal Big Ten matchup Friday night at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET, with the game airing on FS1.

The Bruins enter the game riding a two-game winning streak, including an 85-83 victory over No. 19 Wisconsin on Tuesday. Despite the win, UCLA failed to cover as 3.5-point home favorites, though the game went Over the 141.5-point total. Sophomore center Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 standout from Spain, delivered a career-high 22 points off the bench, shooting a perfect 7-for-7 from the field.

Washington, meanwhile, is mired in a five-game losing streak, most recently falling 82-71 at Oregon on Tuesday. The Huskies managed to cover as 13-point underdogs, and the game also went Over the 145.5-point total. Forward Great Osobor led the team with 20 points, including an 8-for-8 performance from the free-throw line.

The Huskies’ lone Big Ten win this season came on Jan. 2, when they defeated Maryland 75-69 at home. In their first meeting this season, UCLA defeated Washington 69-58 in Los Angeles on Dec. 3, though the Huskies covered as 12-point underdogs, and the game stayed Under the 137-point total.

UCLA has dominated the recent head-to-head series, winning nine of the last 10 matchups. The Bruins are also on the cusp of breaking into the Top 25 rankings, adding extra motivation for Friday’s game.

Key player prop bets include UCLA guard Sebastian Mack, who has scored 16 or more points in three of his last five games. Mack tallied 16 points against Washington earlier this season, making the Over 10.5 points (+100) an intriguing option.

Betting trends favor UCLA, with the Bruins going 6-4 Over/Under in their last 10 games, while Washington is 7-3 Over/Under in the same span. The Over 137.5 (-115) is a lean for this matchup, given both teams’ recent scoring trends.