The Utah Utes (4-1 overall, 1-0 Pac-12) visit the UCLA Bruins (5-2, 1-0) Thursday for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off at Pauley Pavilion. Below, we analyze the Utah-UCLA college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Utah at UCLA: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:10 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Utah +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | UCLA -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Utah +6.5 (-110) | UCLA -6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 136.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Utah at UCLA: Three things to know
- Utah hasn’t played since Dec. 18 when it routed Idaho 79-41 at home. The next game, at Arizona State Dec. 22, was postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test in the Utes program. Utah, which enters on a 2-game win streak, is led by junior F Timmy Allen (15.4 points per game) and senior G Alfonso Plummer (14.8 PPG).
- UCLA hasn’t played since Dec. 19 when it lost to then-No. 19 Ohio State 77-70 on a neutral floor in Cleveland, snapping a 5-game win streak. Like the Utes, the Bruins also had their last game (Dec. 23 at Oregon) postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test, but this time it involved a referee just hours before tip-off. Sophomore G Jamie Jaquez Jr. leads four Bruins in double-figure scoring with 13.7 PPG.
- The Bruins swept last season’s series to end a 3-game slide vs. the Utes. UCLA won 69-58 on the road as a 4-point underdog Feb. 20, and claimed a 73-57 victory at home as a 4-point favorite Feb. 2.
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Utah at UCLA: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
UCLA 75, Utah 65
Money line (ML)
PASS. The Utes might seem tempting at +240, but they’ve lost their last 10 conference road games, including an 0-9 record last season. The Bruins (-300) aren’t worth betting since you have to risk 3 times your potential return.
Against the spread (ATS)
UCLA -6.5 (-110) is the is STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager. The Bruins are 4-0 at home, winning by an average of 20.5 PPG with the closest result being a 69-60 victory over Marquette Dec. 11.
ATS records: Utah 2-3 | UCLA 5-2
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 135.5 (-110) is the way to go. UCLA averages 77.3 PPG and Utah averages 73.8 PPG. The fear is if the two Pac-12 rivals come out a little rusty from their nearly two-week layoffs.
O/U records: Utah 3-2 | UCLA 4-3
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| Johnny’s 2020 CBK record / Strongest plays | 14-18 / 5-10 |
| 2019-20 CBK record / Strongest plays | 5-3 / 5-0 |
| 2020 overall record (all sports) | 177-146-4 |
| Strongest plays (all sports) | 87-60-1 |
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