The Pick: My 60 Dime play is on the UCLA Bruins.
The Line: The current line on this game is +1 1/2 in Vegas and offshore as of 12:10 pm EST. Be sure to shop around for the best line available.
ANALYSIS
They are the hottest team in the PAC-12.
Mick Cronin had to replace the same starting 5 he had for the last 2 years, a group that took him to a final four and elite 8.
So you knew there were going to be growing pains, just didn't know how big those pains were going to be.
Well they were huge.
After a non conference schedule found them 5-6, they opened conference play with a nice win at Oregon State 69-62.
Then came the collapse.
We're talking 4 straight losses at Oregon 64-59, home losses to Stanford 59-53 and Cal 66-57 and then came the Titanic sinking: at Utah 90-44.
It was their 8th loss in 9 games.
Cronin said afterwards, "We got our ass kicked every way we could. Coaching, playing, hustling, everything."
Now for most coaches, the season could have gone south after that game, but not for Cronin, who is a much better coach that that.
They proceeded to come home and as a 1-point home dog beat Washington 73-61, followed by the 68-66 win at Arizona St as a 3-point dog.
Up next, +18 1/2 at Arizona and man did they show up jumping out to a 37-28 halftime lead but the Wildcats rallied.
Courtesy of making 22 of 23 free throws in the final 20 minutes, Arizona battled back for the 77-71 win but the easy cover for UCLA.
They haven't lost since with wins at USC 65-60, home wins over Oregon State 71-63 and Oregon 71-63 and then the Northern California sweep over Stanford 82-74 and CAL 61-60.
Don't look now but that is now a 7-1 run SU and ATS.
Now comes the Colorado Buffaloes to Westwood, a team that can't win on the road.
In their 6 true road games this year they are 1-5 SU and ATS with the only win and cover: at Washington 98-81.
They lost at Colorado State by 5, Arizona by 47, Arizona State by 3, at CAL by 4, Washington State by 9 and Utah by 5.
The Buffs are coming off an embarrassing loss at home over Arizona, getting blown out in the 2nd half 99-79.
You just give up close to 100 at home and now you go face the hottest team in the PAC-12?????
Give me the Bruins all night long tonight.