The Utah Utes will try to pay off for their supporters on Thursday when they play host to the UCLA Bruins at Huntsman Center in NCAA basketball action.

Utah battles the Bruins, currently sitting with a 12-3 mark (6-8 ATS). The OVER/UNDER records, always important for totals bettors, are 3-5 for the Utes and 6-5 for the Bruins.



View UCLA vs Utah Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
College basketball odds makers at Sportsbook opened the Utah Utes as 5-point underdogs in this matchup. Check for the latest spread and over-under at the sportsbook.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 12-ranked Utes and the No. 46-rated Bruins in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 80-79 win for the Bruins on Thursday.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Utah's No. 182 nationally ranked offense (67.4 points per game) against a Bruins defense that sits as the No. 223 at 68.6 PPG. The Utes have been averaging 46.1% from the field, less than the Bruins have managed so far this season (48% on average).

Defensively, UCLA features the nation's No. 179-rated defense on the road, allowing 70.5 points per game. Utah, meanwhile, comes in at No. 178 nationally in scoring at home.

UCLA was a 68-60 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against Stanford. They covered the 6.5-point spread as favorites. Shabazz Muhammad scored 23 points and helped out with 10 rebounds for UCLA on Saturday, leading the Bruins to a 68-60 victory over Stanford at Pauley Pavilion.

In their last action, Utah was a 60-57 loser on the road against Arizona. They covered the 19-point spread as underdogs. Utah suffered a 60-57 loss against Arizona on Saturday, getting 17 points from Jordan Loveridge in a losing effort at McKale Center.


UCLA Bruins Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Colorado are 1-0
After playing Stanford are 4-6
After a win are 7-3

Utah Utes Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 3-7
Before playing USC are 1-2
After playing Arizona are 5-1
After a loss are 5-5

A few Bruins at Utes trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of UCLA's last 7 games on the road
UCLA is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games on the road
UCLA is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Utah is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
Utah is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games


Next up:
UCLA at Colorado, Saturday, January 12
Utah home to USC, Saturday, January 12