UCLA Bruins vs. Texas Longhorns College Basketball Pick: Betting Line-Longhorns by -6 ½ (Total 129); Tip-Off 9 pm ET; Television-ESPN2; Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas; Betting Lines provided by BetUS.com online sportsbook.

The No. 12 (AP) UCLA Bruins travel to Austin, Texas Thursday to play the No. 8 Texas Longhorns in what is by far the best of several college match-ups this day. This game is part of the Big 12/PAC 10 Hardwood Series.

This is just the fourth meeting between UCLA and Texas with the Bruins leading the series 2-1. All three prior meetings have been in Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles with the Bruins losing last year's meeting 63-61 in the Big 12/PAC-10 Hardwood Series on Dec. 2, 2007.

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Online oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com favor the Longhorns on their home court in this one by a 6 ½ -chalk ATS and -280 moneyline with a 129 total. UCLA backers are getting +240 moneyline odds.

Texas has scored well for betters covering 5-of-6 games SU with a 3-2 record ATS. UCLA at 4-1 SU is only 2-3 ATS in the early going. The Bruins lone loss came at the hands of Michigan Nov. 20.

The Big 12 and Pacific-10 Conferences continue games this season in a four-year agreement to play a men's basketball series of 12 annual matchups between the two leagues. The 2008-09 campaign marks the second season of the Hardwood Series. Last year, the Pac-10 held a 7-5 edge in series' contests. However, the Big 12 won the overall season series between conference teams with an 11-8 advantage.

My pick: This game could come down to the wire. Thats why I like the Bruins +6 ½ ATS but I have to go with the home team SU.

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