Ucla Bruins vs Usc Trojans Picks and Predictions March 8th 2025

UCLA, USC Square Off in Crosstown Showdown

Crosstown Los Angeles rivals UCLA and USC wrap up their inaugural Big Ten Conference campaigns on Saturday as the Bruins host the Trojans in a high-stakes matchup.

Bruins Look to Build Momentum Ahead of Tournament

UCLA (21-9, 12-7 Big Ten) aims to ride a wave of momentum into next week’s Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. The Bruins nearly let a 14-point lead slip away against Northwestern on Monday, but clutch free-throw shooting and a crucial steal by William Kyle III helped secure a 73-69 victory.

Head coach Mick Cronin praised his team’s resilience in the face of adversity and sees the hard-fought win as a stepping stone heading into the postseason.

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“Our competitive desire matched what I’m asking (from) the guys,” Cronin said. “Pat Riley used to say, ‘What happens when the ball’s on the floor decides who wins.’ He’s a pretty smart coach, so I believe in that.”

A major strength for UCLA has been its defensive intensity. The Bruins rank 18th nationally in rebounds allowed per game (31.1) and are among the top teams in the country in forcing turnovers, averaging 15.1 takeaways per contest.

UCLA is also seeking consecutive victories for the first time since their seven-game winning streak ended on Feb. 11 against Illinois. A win on Saturday would also complete a season sweep of their archrivals.

USC Fighting for Big Ten Tournament Berth

For USC (15-15, 7-12), the stakes are high. The Trojans snapped a five-game losing streak in emphatic fashion on Wednesday, dominating Washington 92-61. That win put them in a tight five-way tie alongside Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, and Rutgers, with only one game separating them from the bottom three teams that will miss the Big Ten Tournament.

“We have one more game to play, and hopefully we’re still alive,” first-year USC head coach Eric Musselman said. “I compliment this team for giving their all, because I think they have. Has it been perfect? No, not by any means. We know we want to grow next year.”

USC’s future looks bright with freshman Wesley Yates III emerging as a key player. Averaging 13.6 points per game, Yates trails only junior Desmond Claude (15.8 PPG) as the team’s top scorer. Yates posted 19 points in USC’s previous meeting with UCLA, a game the Bruins won 82-76 on Jan. 27.

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On the Bruins’ side, Eric Dailey Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau lead the team in scoring, with Dailey posting 16 points in the last meeting against USC. Meanwhile, Aday Mara has been a force on the boards, recording double-doubles in two of his last three games, including an 11-point, 10-rebound performance against Northwestern.

With both teams looking to close out the regular season strong, the intensity will be high in this classic Los Angeles rivalry.

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