UCLA at Utah College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/22/2018

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Jon M. Huntsman Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UCLA Bruins travel to Jon M. Huntsman Center to play the Utah Utes on Thursday, February 22, 2018. The opening line for this game has Utah as 3 point favorites.

UCLA heads into this matchup with a mark of 19-8. They currently have a point differential of 6.6 as they are averaging 82.6 points per contest while giving up 76.0 per game. Utah has an overall record of 17-9. They are averaging 74.3 points per game and surrendering 68.8, good for a point differential of 5.6.

Valuable UCLA Bruins Betting Trends

The UCLA Bruins are 13-13 against the spread this season

The UCLA Bruins are 15-12 against the over/under this year

Important Utah Utes Betting Trends

The Utah Utes are 13-9 against the spread this season

The Utah Utes are 9-15 against the over/under this year

Key UCLA Bruins Injuries

12/22/17 F Cody Riley Suspension is out for season
12/04/17 G LiAngelo Ball Left Team is out for season
11/08/17 F Jalen Hill Suspension is out for season
02/10/18 C Ikenna Okwarabizie Concussion is out indefinitely

Key Utah Utes Injuries

02/21/18 F Jayce Johnson Foot is "?" Thursday vs UCLA
02/21/18 G Sedrick Barefield Ribs is "?" Thursday vs UCLA

Player Spotlight

Aaron Holiday averages 19.4 points per game while playing 37 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 84%. Kris Wilkes averages 13.7 points per game in 29.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.6 assists per contest and 5.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 66%.

Player Spotlight

Justin Bibbins averages 14.1 points per game while playing 34 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3 rebounds per game and has 4.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 88%. David Collette averages 12.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 21.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.8 rebounds per contest and 1.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 62% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

UCLA averages 82.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 28th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 6.6 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 87th. Behind the arc they shoot 38%, which is good for 68th in the country. They average 39.0 rebounds per game and 15.3 assists per game, which ranks them 29th and 76th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 263rd with 12.2 per game. The Bruins allow 76.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 270th in Division 1. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 76th and 173rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 36.4 rebounds a game which ranks 261st and they give up 14.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 245th place in college basketball. They force 11.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 165th in the country with 74.3 points per game this year. They are 133rd in D-1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 5.6. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 109th in college basketball. They are 227th in the nation in rebounding with 34.4 boards per game, and 50th in assists per contest with 16.0. The Utes are 261st in turnovers per game with 12.2. The Utes surrender 68.8 points per contest, which ranks them 86th in the country. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 60th and 132nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 51st with 11.5 assists allowed per contest and 180th with 34.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Utes are 102nd in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.3 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Bruins are 42nd in the nation in offensive rating with 112.1, and their defensive rating of 103.2 is ranked 207th. In terms of pace they are 68th in the country with 72 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 76th. As a team they are 64th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 144th in Division 1. UCLA is 305th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 95th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 203rd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 66th in Division 1. The Utes are 111th in the nation in defensive rating with 100.1, and their offensive rating of 108.2 is ranked 107th. They are 243rd in D-1 in pace with 68.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 71st. As a unit they are 59th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shot attempts, ranking 26th in the country.

Who will win tonight's UCLA/Utah college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Utah -3

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