The Rutgers Scarlet Knights take on the UCLA Bruins in Los Angeles, CA. Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on BTN.
UCLA is favored by 13.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -1600. The total is set at 139.5 points.
Here’s my Rutgers vs. UCLA predictions and college basketball picks for February 3, 2026.
Rutgers vs UCLA Prediction
My Pick: UCLA -13.5 (If Skyy Clark Plays) | (Play to -10.5 if Clark is Out)
My Rutgers vs UCLA best bet is on the Bruins to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Rutgers vs. UCLA Odds
| Rutgers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+13.5 -105 | 139.5 -105o / -115u | +860 |
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-13.5 -115 | 139.5 -105o / -115u | -1600 |
- Rutgers vs UCLA spread: UCLA -13.5
- Rutgers vs UCLA over/under: 139.5 points
- Rutgers vs UCLA moneyline: Rutgers +860, UCLA -1600
Rutgers vs UCLA College Basketball Betting Preview
Rutgers Basketball
The Scarlet Knights started the season 0-3 in conference play, but then won two overtime games (against Oregon and Northwestern) in their next three overall to give them some momentum.
Rutgers hasn't quite been able to continue on a winning path, but it's looked better, even during a five-game losing streak, as only one of those games (an 82-59 loss to Indiana) was decided by more than nine points.
The big key to the Scarlet Knights' recent stretch of decent basketball has been Tariq Francis. The NJIT transfer scored exactly 30 points in each of Rutgers' two conference wins this season and has averaged 22.8 points per game over his last six outings.
However, Francis did have an off game against Michigan State, one of the top defensive units in the country. UCLA will try to key in on the 6-foot-1 junior, and if his offensive production is slowed down, the Scarlet Knights will struggle.
UCLA Basketball
The Bruins find themselves in an important rebound spot in this game, with a loss to Indiana over the weekend serving as UCLA's first defeat at Pauley Pavilion in 14 games.
UCLA has been good following a loss this season, only losing two in a row on a tough road trip to Iowa and Wisconsin right after Big Ten play restarted in early January.
Otherwise, every Bruins loss has been followed up by a win, including a 13-point win against Arizona State at home, a 12-point win against Maryland at home and a big upset against Purdue at home following a loss to Ohio State.
All of that is to hint at the fact that UCLA doesn't let things spiral out of control, especially when its next game is at home.
Fittingly, this game against Rutgers comes after a grueling 98-97 double-overtime loss to Indiana over the weekend.
The Bruins have another chance to bounce back from a loss in style here, and I think they're in a good matchup to do just that.
The commanding victories against Arizona State and Maryland are both great examples of UCLA securing dominant victories coming off a loss, and that's exactly what the Bruins will aim to do tonight.
Rutgers vs. UCLA Betting Analysis
This game will ultimately come down to whether Francis comes back down to earth. An important factor that could mitigate Francis' production is the potential return of UCLA guard Skyy Clark.
Clark is one of the Bruins' best offensive players, but before he made his mark as an efficient scorer this season, he already had a reputation as a solid defender.
If Clark plays, he'll be a key part of the Bruins' strategy to shut down Francis on the other end. The Bruins should be able to secure a double-digit victory regardless, but they might be favored by a few too many points if they aren't fully healthy.
My Pick: UCLA -13.5 (If Skyy Clark Plays) | (Play to -10.5 if Clark is Out)
