UCLA vs. Maryland Expert Pick and Prediction – January 26, 2025

UCLA VS. MARYLAND EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTION – January 26, 2025 — Is anyone going to be able to beat UCLA? The Bruins face their toughest road test in the Big Ten to date (although they’ve still got to go across town to USC) in Maryland, with the Terps holding a history of upsetting the apple cart in this league.

Maryland was the third team in during the Indiana-Iowa heavyweight fight two years ago, and the Terrapins proved themselves more than capable of matching up. This year might not be the case for Brenda Frese’s team, as the Terps are coming off back-to-back defeats.

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Losing to Ohio State in Columbus isn’t a bad sign at all, especially by a mere eight points. The Buckeyes have just one loss on the season (although it’s Penn State’s only win in the Big Ten), so there’s no shame in that. The same holds for a five-point loss at home to USC, and the third loss wasn’t bad on the surface, on a neutral floor to Texas. The problem there was that the Longhorns beat the Terrapins by 38.

So there’s still a lot to get figured out for Maryland. UCLA, however, has looked unstoppable. The Bruins combine the defense of Texas with the firepower of South Carolina, which is why they’re looking for a 20-0 start to the season. Of those 19 wins they’ve already earned, 18 have come by double digits, including one over South Carolina.

The Odds

Tipoff

When: Sunday, January 26 at 2 p.m.

Where: Xfinity Center, College Park, Md.

TV: NBC

Public Bets: Unavailable

Public Money: Unavailable

UCLA vs. Maryland In-Season Trends

It’s hard to get anything going against UCLA. The Bruins defend the heck out of opponents, and they force teams to look for whatever shot they can find. Most teams usually can’t find all that much. For the year, only Michigan has managed to crack 70 points against the Bruins, and the Wolverines just barely got to that number. UCLA being what it is, the Bruins still won that one by 16.

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Maryland expects to play high-scoring games. The Terrapins have scored 70 points or more in 11 of their past 12 games, only failing against the Texas anaconda. Most times, the Terps have no trouble getting points on the board, but stopping opponents is a challenge. Out of their past five foes, the only one who didn’t break 70 was Wisconsin. To be fair, that’s the one unranked team Maryland has played in its past five.

The Difference-Makers

At 6’7″, Lauren Betts is as close as it gets to a walking double-double. She’s averaging 20.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, and she’s got three double-doubles in her past five games, coming one rebound shy in a fourth. Betts is a matchup nightmare for anyone, and her block numbers will sometimes get her to triple-double territory.

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Shyanne Sellers picked up an injury early against Texas, which was why Maryland got creamed by the Longhorns. The Terps don’t take care of the ball well as it is, and trying to beat the Longhorns with a reserve point guard is basically impossible. Saylor Poffenbarger has to be better with the basketball.

The Pick

If Maryland were at full strength, that would be one thing. But Sellers is on the shelf, and turnovers have plagued Maryland all season long.

The Terrapins might get themselves up to UCLA’s level by the time they get to Indianapolis in March. But this doesn’t appear to be their day to handle the Bruins.