The New Mexico Lobos take on the UCLA Bruins in Henderson, NV at Lee's Family Forum. Tip-off is set for 11 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
In this particular matchup, the Bruins are favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -230. The total is also set at 153 points.
Here’s my New Mexico vs UCLA predictions and college basketball picks for Friday.
New Mexico vs UCLA Prediction
My Pick: UCLA -5.5
My New Mexico vs UCLA best bet is on the Bruins spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
New Mexico vs UCLA Odds
| New Mexico Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -115 | 153 -108o/-112u | +190 |
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -105 | 153 -108o/-112u | -230 |
- New Mexico vs UCLA spread: UCLA -5.5
- New Mexico vs UCLA over/under: 153
- New Mexico vs UCLA moneyline: UCLA -230, New Mexico +190
- New Mexico vs UCLA best bet: UCLA -5.5
Spread
I'm taking UCLA on the spread, but I wouldn't take it higher than 5.5.
Moneyline
UCLA should win this game, but there's no value on the ML.
Over/Under
I'm passing on the total.
My Pick: UCLA -5.5
New Mexico vs UCLA College Basketball Betting Preview
New Mexico Basketball
Despite losing Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn Jr. and JT Toppin, New Mexico was picked to finish second in the Mountain West coaches' preseason poll.
The reason for that is junior guard Donovan Dent, who should take over as the Lobos' go-to guy this season after finishing as the team's second-leading scorer in 2023-24.
He's not alone, though, as Nelly Junior Joseph is back and already wrecking havoc, thanks to a 28-point, 16-rebound performance in their first game against Nicholls. Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year Mustapha Amzil also returns, as does breakout candidate Tru Washington.
UCLA Basketball
Mick Cronin reached 12 straight NCAA Tournaments (not counting the COVID year) and a Final Four before last season's 16-17 debacle.
The Bruins lacked experience, and while Cronin's teams are normally physically tough — especially defensively — that wasn't the case in 2023-24.
So, what did the head coach do before their first year in the Big Ten? He went shopping in the transfer portal, adding one of the best on-ball defenders in the country in Kobe Johnson, an underrated pick-up in Tyler Bilodeau and three other potential key contributors.
Most importantly, Dylan Andrews and Sebastian Mack — two of their top three leading scorers from last season — have an added year of experience.
The Bruins should return to the NCAA Tournament.
New Mexico vs UCLA Betting Analysis
Obviously, North Carolina-Kansas is the game of the day in college basketball, but this one should be on a short list for No. 2.
That being said, UCLA should cover the spread here. Dent is an elite scorer and shot creator, but the Bruins have a multitude of defenders — including one of the best in the country in Johnson — to throw at the junior guard.
It will be up to the Lobos' other players to pick up the slack offensively, but unless Washington takes a step forward, they are lacking in secondary shot creators. They also shot a brutal 19.4% from 3 in game one.
Meanwhile, on the other end, New Mexico couldn't stop Nicholls, allowing the Colonels to score 84 points on 41.7% overall shooting and 40.5% 3-point shooting. That's not a good sign when going up against Andrews, Mack and Bilodeau.
This is a huge opportunity for New Mexico to grab a big victory at a neutral site against a top-25-ranked team, but I think UCLA is going to be up for the challenge with its improved defense, two quality guards and more physical play on the interior.
