UCLA at Utah Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 3/9/2019

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Jon M. Huntsman Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The UCLA Bruins head to Jon M. Huntsman Center to take on the Utah Utes on Saturday, March 9, 2019. The opening line for this game has Utah as 4.5 point favorites.

UCLA heads into this matchup with a mark of 16-14. They currently have a point differential of 0.9 as they are averaging 78.3 points per contest while giving up 77.3 per game. Utah has an overall record of 16-13. They are averaging 75.8 points per game and surrendering 74.6, good for a point differential of 1.1.

Valuable UCLA Bruins Betting Trends

The UCLA Bruins are 12-18-0 against the spread this season

The UCLA Bruins are 15-15-0 against the over/under this year

Important Utah Utes Betting Trends

The Utah Utes are 14-15-0 against the spread this season

The Utah Utes are 18-10-1 against the over/under this year

Key UCLA Bruins Injuries

11/05/18 F Shareef O'Neal Heart is out for season
11/05/18 G Tyger Campbell ACL is out for season

Key Utah Utes Injuries

03/07/19 F Jayce Johnson Ankle is out Thursday vs USC

Player Spotlight

Kris Wilkes comes into this game averaging 17.1 points per contest while playing 31.3 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is 66%. Jaylen Hands averages 13.9 points per contest in 31.0 minutes per game. He averages 6.3 assists per game and 3.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 41% for the season while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Sedrick Barefield scores 16.8 points per contest while playing 32.2 minutes per game. He hauls in 2.1 rebounds per contest and has 4.0 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Timmy Allen averages 12.0 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 28.4 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.1 rebounds per game and has 2.4 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 58% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

UCLA averages 78.3 points per contest, which is 52nd in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 0.9 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 98th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 130th in the nation. They average 41.4 boards per contest and 14.8 assists per game, which ranks them 3rd and 75th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 66th with 14.3 per game. The Bruins allow 77.3 points per contest, which is 312th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 95th and 195th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 36.5 rebounds a game which ranks 267th, and they allow 17.2 assists per game which puts them in 346th place in the country. They force 11.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 46th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 100th in the nation with 75.8 points per contest this season. They are 61st in the country in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 1.1. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 43rd in the NCAA. They are 193rd in D-1 in rebounding with 35.2 boards per contest and 101st in assists per game with 14.4. The Utes are 121st in turnovers per contest with 13.5. The Utes give up 74.6 points per game, which ranks them 257th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 293rd and 276th in those defensive statistics. They rank 172nd with 13.0 dimes allowed per game and 44th with 31.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Utes are 4th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 10.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Bruins have an offensive rating of 105, which is ranked 150th. They are 29th in college basketball in pace with 73.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 126th. As a unit they are 180th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 247th in D-1. UCLA is 142nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.6 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 93rd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.2 times per 100 possessions. The Utes have an offensive rating of 111, which is ranked 41st. They are 253rd in D-1 in pace with 67.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 25th. As a unit they are 28th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shot attempts, ranking 20th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take UCLA +4.5

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