The UCLA Bruins (19-8, 10-6) will host the Ohio State Buckeyes (15-12, 7-9) in Big Ten action on Sunday on CBS and Paramount+. After missing the NCAA Tournament entirely last season, the Bruins appear to be back on track to earn a bid in 2025 but Ohio State is on the outside looking in during Jake Diebler’s first full season at the helm. This is UCLA’s first season as a member of the Big Ten but these two programs do have some recent history, with the Buckeyes pulling out a 67-60 win at home in Dec. 2023.
Tipoff is set for 3:45 p.m. ET at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. The latest UCLA vs. Ohio State odds from SportsLine consensus list the Bruins as 7.5-point home favorites, with the over/under at 138.5. You can watch this matchup on CBS and Paramount+, where you can get a seven-day free trial right here.
SportsLine’s proven model has simulated Ohio State vs. UCLA 10,000 times and revealed its best bets for this game. See all the college basketball picks from SportsLine right here.
The model simulates every Division 1 college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered Week 16 of the 2024-25 season on a 213-158 betting roll (+1675) on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to 2023. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Here are the college basketball best bets for UCLA vs. Ohio State (on Paramount+) on Sunday:
Over 138.5 (-112)
This will be the first meeting between these two programs since becoming conference rivals and both of these teams rank in the 75th percentile or higher among Division I college basketball in offensive rating and team field-goal percentage. Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton has been an offensive juggernaut this season, averaging 17.1 points and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 51.3% from the floor and 44.5% from beyond the arc. The Over has hit in four of Ohio State’s last six games and the Buckeyes rank 192nd in the nation in points allowed per game (72.0). See all of the model’s Saturday college basketball picks here.
The Pick: Over 138.5 — The Over hits in 64% of the model’s simulations
Projected final score: Ohio State 73, UCLA 72
Bonus Sunday CBB pick: Bruce Marshall is on a 6-0 (+600) roll on college basketball picks. See which side of the spread he likes for Indiana vs. Purdue (-3.5) right here.
Ohio State +7.5 (-112)
Ohio State has been a little inconsistent in Diebler’s first full season on the job after he went 8-3 as an interim coach last season. However, the Buckeyes do have some quality wins on their resume, including neutral-court wins over Texas and Kentucky as well as a home win over Maryland and a road victory over Purdue. Meanwhile, UCLA has lost two of its last three games, including a 64-61 setback on its home floor against Minnesota its last time out. Don’t forget to stream the game on Paramount+, where you can get a free seven-day trial.
The Pick: Ohio State +7.5 — The Buckeyes cover in 70% of simulations
Projected final score: Ohio State 73, UCLA 72
Bonus Sunday CBB pick: SportsLine’s model enters Week 16 of the 2024-25 season on a 213-158 roll (+1675) on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to 2023. It has revealed an A-rated pick for Kansas State vs. Arizona State that you can see right here.
Want more college basketball picks for Sunday?
You’ve seen the model’s college basketball best bets for Ohio State vs. UCLA. Now, get picks for every game from SportsLine’s model that’s on a 213-158 roll on college basketball picks dating back to 2023. Visit SportsLine to get all of its college basketball picks for Sunday right here.
Also, be sure to see the Sunday college basketball picks from SportsLine’s Jason La Canfora, who’s on a blistering 11-1 run on his college basketball over/under picks. Visit SportsLine here to get all of his picks.
And don’t forget to watch UCLA vs. Ohio State and other select college basketball games on CBS and Paramount+. Get a free seven-day trial right here.
