The Round of 32 brings us plenty of exciting matchups. One such showdown is between a pair of legendary programs as the UCLA Bruins will try to upset the Connecticut Huskies.
Connecticut got more of a test than it expected on Friday night. With Silas Demary Jr. and Jaylin Stewart ruled out with injuries, Dan Hurley’s group had to buckle down against No. 15 Furman, It was close for most of the game as Connecticut couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn from distance, but Tarris Reed Jr. was crucial. The junior big man put up a monstrous 19 points and 16 rebounds in the first half alone, finishing with 31 points and 27 rebounds in the 82-71 win.
UCLA weathered its own injury concerns. Its leading scorer, Tyler Bilodeau, was forced to miss their game against UCF. But a big performance from Eric Dailey Jr. delivered a 75-71 win, punching their ticket for a date with Connecticut. All eyes will be on Bilodeau’s status for Sunday’s game.
Let’s take a look at the opening odds for this UCLA-Connecticut matchup.
UCLA vs. UConn opening odds
Connecticut opens as a 4.5-point favorite and holds -205 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. UCLA has +170 odds to pull off the upset, with the game total set at 139.5 points.
Connecticut got back into form this season after a down 2024-25. Winning three straight titles isn’t expected, but a rough exit in last year’s tournament to the eventual champion, Florida Gators, was tough for Hurley’s team. But they have so much continuity on the roster, and that was on display in their win over Furman, winning without two starters. Alex Karaban is the veteran who sets the tone, Reed can clearly ball, and Solo Ball can also, uhhh, ball. It’s a strong group that is capable of making a deep run in the tournament.
UCLA will be hanging on Bilodeau’s status, but it’s more than capable of winning a big game while shorthanded. Senior Donovan Dent can handle the offensive creation, setting up plenty of looks for the rest of his teammates. They’re a bit short on size, which hurt them in Big Ten play this season. But if they can hit the right notes by spacing the floor and winning in transition, they’re capable of an upset or two.
