The No. 3 UCLA Bruins (23-4, 14-2 Pac-12) will attempt to stay atop the conference when they visit the Utah Utes (17-11, 10-7) in Salt Lake City Thursday at 11 p.m. ET (FS1). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the UCLA vs. Utah odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
The Bruins enter on a 6-game win streak, coming off a 78-43 rout of Cal as 25-point home favorites Saturday following a 73-64 home win as 13.5-point favorites over Stanford Feb. 16.
The Utes are on a 2-game slide. They lost 67-59 as 3-point underdogs at Arizona State Saturday and dropped an 88-62 decision as 12-point dogs at Arizona Feb. 16. Returning back home for this game, Utah must get back in form as it is falling further behind 1st-place UCLA in the conference race.
If coach Mick Cronin has UCLA hitting on all cylinders, this game will not be close. If Utah can regain some home magic, this could be an interesting game for both fanbases.
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UCLA at Utah odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:01 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): UCLA -320 (bet $320 to win $100) | Utah +255 (bet $100 to win $255)
- Against the spread (ATS): UCLA -7.5 (-105) | Utah +7.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 130.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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UCLA at Utah picks and predictions
Prediction
UCLA 65, Utah 59
Moneyline
PASS.
Despite the groanings of coach Cronin, UCLA (-320) is not being shafted by the committee because it is leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten. The Bruins are far superior to the Utes, however taking them at -320 is not a wager I would make. Even if they will win, risking 3.2 times the potential profit is not something to bet.
Against the spread
BET UTAH +7.5 (-115).
The home team has covered the spread in 13 of the last 18 games in this series, according to Covers.com. UCLA won the 1st head-to-head meeting this season 68-49, covering as a 13-point favorite, but that was in Pauly Pavilion while this game will be in Salt Lake City.
The Bruins have been on a roll lately, recently, as mentioned, crushing Cal by 35 points. Utah is far better than Cal and the 7.5-point line is too large of a number to lay with the Utes being at home.
This will be a 5-point game down the stretch. UCLA will not be in trouble of losing, but it will not blow out Utah either. Give me the points with the underdog.
Over/Under
UNDER 130.5 (-110).
Both defenses are solid. Utah holds opponents to 62.9 points per game while UCLA is even better, allowing only 59.4 PPG to rank 7th in the country (per Covers.com) — the Utes rank 28th.
A low-possession and low-scoring game should be in store.
While 130.5 is a low number, I don’t see it being low enough. The Bruins have gone Under the total in 9 of 11 games after an ATS victory and are also a perfect 4-0 in their last 4 games after allowing their previous opponent to score Under 50.
With UCLA’s top-10 defense and Utah struggling to score — averaging 69.8 PPG to rank 221st — don’t expect a shootout and take the Under.
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