Purdue Boilermakers vs UCLA Bruins Picks and Predictions for Saturday March 14 2026
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The Purdue Boilermakers face the UCLA Bruins in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinal on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 PM ET with television coverage on CBS. According to DraftKings, Purdue is favored by -8.5 with the total set at 146.5, while UCLA is +295 on the moneyline and Purdue is -375. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily betting insights and predictions.
Boilermakers Showing Balance Heading Into Semifinal
The Purdue Boilermakers enter the Big Ten Tournament semifinal with a 25-8 overall record and a 13-7 conference record. Purdue advanced to this round after recently winning over Nebraska 74-58 in the quarterfinal, following an earlier tournament victory over Northwestern. In their last five games, Purdue has recently won over Nebraska, Northwestern, and Northwestern again while recently losing to Wisconsin and Ohio State.
Purdue has averaged 82.2 points per game while allowing 70.2 points per game this season. The Boilermakers shoot 50% from the field and average 35.5 rebounds and 19.8 assists per game, demonstrating one of the most efficient offenses in the conference. Defensively they contribute 2.7 blocks and 5.6 steals per game, helping them maintain strong defensive efficiency to complement their offense.
In their quarterfinal win over Nebraska, Purdue received a strong performance from Fletcher Loyer, who led the Boilermakers with 19 points while shooting efficiently from the field and the free throw line. On the boards, Oscar Cluff led Purdue with nine rebounds, helping Purdue control the glass and limit Nebraska’s second-chance opportunities. Purdue also shot 86% from the free throw line in that game, highlighting their ability to capitalize on scoring chances during tournament play.
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Bruins Riding Hot Shooting Into Semifinal
The UCLA Bruins enter the semifinal with a 23-10 overall record and a 13-7 conference record. UCLA advanced to this round after recently winning over Michigan State 88-84 in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal, following a victory over Rutgers in the previous round. The Bruins have recently won over Michigan State, Rutgers, USC, and Nebraska while recently losing to Minnesota.
UCLA has averaged 77.8 points per game while allowing 70.9 points per game this season. The Bruins shoot 47% from the field and average 32.7 rebounds and 16.2 assists per game. Defensively they contribute 3.0 blocks and 6.3 steals per game, showing solid defensive activity while relying on efficient offense to generate scoring runs.
In their quarterfinal victory over Michigan State, UCLA leaned on Donovan Dent, who led the Bruins with 23 points while also contributing 12 assists, orchestrating the offense in a high-scoring game. On the boards, Eric Dailey Jr. led UCLA with 10 rebounds, helping the Bruins stay competitive on the glass despite Michigan State’s size advantage. UCLA also shot 56% from the field in that matchup, demonstrating the type of offensive efficiency needed to challenge Purdue.
Purdue vs UCLA Pick
Purdue vs UCLA Spread Pick
- Pick: Purdue -8.5
Purdue enters this matchup with one of the most efficient offenses in the Big Ten and has shown strong defensive consistency throughout the season. While UCLA has been playing well recently, Purdue’s rebounding advantage and ability to move the ball efficiently should allow them to generate higher-quality scoring opportunities. With Purdue coming off a solid defensive performance against Nebraska, the Boilermakers have a strong chance to control the tempo and cover the spread.
Purdue vs UCLA Total Pick
- Pick: Over 146.5
I like the over in this matchup because both teams are capable of scoring efficiently when their offenses are flowing. UCLA is coming off an 88-point performance against Michigan State and shot 56% from the field in that game, while Purdue averages over 82 points per game this season. With both teams possessing strong offensive efficiency and capable playmakers, I expect this game to reach the mid-70s or higher for both sides.
Final Score Prediction: Purdue 81, UCLA 73
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