UCLA Bruins vs Utah Utes Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 02/23/2023

Game Time: 11:00 pm ET, Thursday, February 23, 2023

Venue:  Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Where to Watch:  Fox Sports 1

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  UCLA -7, Utah +7; Over/Under:  130.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  UCLA -7, Utah +7; Over/Under:  130.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  UCLA -7, Utah +7; Over/Under:  130.5 points

UCLA Bruins:  23-4 (14-2) (1st place, PAC-12)

Utah Utes:  17-11 (10-7) (5th place, PAC-12)

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UCLA Bruins:  5-0  last 5

Utah Utes:  2-3  last 5

UCLA is coming into this game with a 23-4 record overall and they are 7-2 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are also 14-2 in their conference games this season as well. They are entering this game on a 6 game winning streak with wins coming against the Washington Huskies, the Washington State Cougars, the Oregon State Beavers, the Oregon Ducks, the Stanford Cardinal, and the California Golden Bears in their last game. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the team in points in that game with 20 while Amari Bailey was next on the team with 16 points. Tyger Campbell led the team in assists in that game with 5 while Amari Bailey led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 51.7% from the field, 30% from 3-point range, and 80% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 74.1 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 59.4 PPG against them. UCLA has an ATS record of 16-11 this season and their O/U record is 12-15.

Utah is coming into this game with a 17-11 record overall and they are 12-3 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are also 10-7 in their conference schedule this season as well. They are entering this game on a 2 game losing streak with losses coming against the Arizona Wildcats and the Arizona State Sun Devils in their last game. Branden Carlson, Marco Anthony, and Lazar Stefanovic each led the team in points in that game with 12 while Wilguens Jr. Exacte was next on the team with 8 points. Marco Anthony led the team in assists in that game with 3 while Ben Carlson and Branden Carlson each led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 38.3% from the field, 24% from 3-point range, and 63.6% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 69.8 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 62.9 PPG against them. Utah has an ATS record of 14-14 this season and their O/U record is 10-18.

The current betting odds have UCLA listed as a 7 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. UCLA has been having a great season with their 23-4 record overall as they enter this game ranked as one of the best teams in the country and have been for most of the season. They have been the best team in the PAC-12 this season with their 14-2 conference record and they have even been great in their road games with a 7-2 road record. Utah hasn't been bad this season but they are only 17-11 overall and have a 10-7 conference record as they haven't been nearly as good as some of the top teams in the PAC-12. They have been great in their home games though with a 12-3 home record this season, but they are entering this one with 2 losses in a row now while UCLA has won 6 games in a row and is going to have a lot of momentum entering this game. UCLA is one of the best in the country this year and they are looking to prove themselves even more as the NCAA Tournament is right around the corner now. The best way to place a bet here is on UCLA to cover the spread in this game. 

UCLA Utah Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Thursday, February 23, 2023 (11:00 pm ET start time) is UCLA 82 Utah 68.

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UCLA Bruins: 16-8 ATS off a home win against a conference rival. 13-6 ATS off a home blowout win by 20 points or more. 45-23 UNDER in a road game where the total is 130 to 139.5.

Utah Utes: 16-25 ATS after 1 or more consecutive unders. 18-27 ATS after a game where they failed to cover the spread. 10-3 UNDER after a game where they failed to cover the spread.

UCLA Bruins:  A. Canka (G) Ques Thurs - Illness. K. Nwuba (F) Ques Thurs - Groin. E. Manjikian (F) Out indefinitely - Arm.

Utah Utes:  R. Worster (G) Doub Fri - Leg. E. Ballstaedt (G) Ques Fri - Concussion. G. Madsen (G) Early March - Leg.

“If you ask my one-word answer on that ranking — comical. I’m going to try not to laugh. When we left the Pac-12, it cost a lot of people millions of dollars and there was going to be fallout, and I think it’s a direct result. I had nothing to do with us leaving the league, but you deal with the fallout being a lame duck.” - Mick Cronin on his team’s ranking as the NCAA Tournament is nearing.

“It was a heck of a college basketball game. I thought it had a little bit of everything. It had some power, it had some finesse, it had some great defense at times and some good offense. And credit to them, they made the plays down the stretch.” - Craig Smith after his team’s loss against ASU in their last game. 

A. Bailey 

A. Bona 

T. Campbell 

J. Clark 

J. Jaquez

M. Anthony 

B. Carlson 

B. Carlson 

G. Madsen 

R. Worster

PPG: J. Jaquez Jr. (16.8)

APG: T. Campbell (4.8)

Reb/G: J. Jaquez Jr. (8.1)

PPG: B. Carlson (16.4)

APG: R. Worster (5.1)

Reb/G: B. Carlson (7.4)

Coaches:

UCLA Bruins: Mick Cronin (4th season)

Utah Utes: Craig Smith (2nd season)