Free NCAA Hoops Pick: Bruins vs. Utes CBB Odds
Looking for UCLA Bruins vs. Utah Utes NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Bruins taking on the Utes on Thursday, January 20th, 2022 at John M. Huntsman Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all college basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NCAA basketball predictions like this Bruins-Utes matchup.
2022 NCAA Basketball Handicapping
(11-2) UCLA Bruins vs. Utah Utes (8-10)
Date: Thursday, January 20th, 2022
Time: 11:00 PM ET
Venue: John M. Huntsman Center, Utah City, Utah
CBB Betting ATS Odds: UCLA -9.5 | Utah +9.5 (Bet Now!)
CBB Moneyline Odds: UCLA -475 | Utah +360
CBB Betting Total: O/U 143
Pac-12 rivals will clash on Thursday night when the No. 9 UCLA Bruins visit the Utah Utes at the Huntsman Center.
UCLA is near the top of the standings at 11-2 (3-1 Pac-12) on the season after picking up an 81-65 home win over the Oregon State Beavers on Saturday night, pushing as a 16-point favorite. Utah continued to struggle with a 64-62 road loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils as a 2.5-point underdog on Monday, falling to 8-10 (1-7 Pac-12) for the season.
The Bruins won both meetings last season to extend their head-to-head winning streak to four straight games, bringing their all-time advantage over Utah to 11-8.
UCLA Bruins
After suffering an upset loss at home against Oregon on Thursday night for their first Pac-12 defeat, the Bruins managed to quickly recover two nights later by taking care of business against the Beavers. The game was tight for the first 10 minutes, but UCLA slowly wore down Oregon State, outscoring the Beavers by eight points in each half while leading by as many as 18 late.
Johnny Juzang had a strong game with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals on 7/11 shooting from the floor, while Jules Bernard added 16 points. UCLA’s offense couldn’t be stopped in the paint, with the Bruins shooting 27/35 from two-point range and 21/26 from the free throw line.
The Bruins rank 20th in scoring offense nationally with an average of 80.6 points per game on shooting splits of 47.5% from two and 32.5% from three. UCLA’s defense has been shakier than most projected, allowing 66.8 points per game on 47.5% shooting from two and 32.5% shooting from beyond the arc.
Following last season’s magical run in the NCAA Tournament, Juzang has again been UCLA’s top scorer with 17.2 points per game. Jaime Jaquez Jr. adds 13.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while Tyger Campbell is an effective point guard with 12.6 points, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals per contest.
Utah Utes
The Utes are going through some growing pains under first-year head coach Craig Smith, and the wheels have really come off in Pac-12 play as they have now lost 10 of their last 13 games after dropping a tight one at Arizona State on Monday. Utah looked poised to break its losing streak with a 60-57 lead with 1:38 to go, but Arizona State responded with a three before hitting the game-winning jumper with four seconds remaining on the clock.
Both Gach is Utah’s top currently healthy scorer with an average of 10.8 points per game. Jenkins Jr. is also in double figures at 10.7 points per game after transferring in from UNLV, while Utah State transfer Marco Anthony adds 8.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest.
One of Utah’s biggest problems right now is that its best player has been out for the last three games. Branden Carlson, who averages 13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, is recovering from appendicitis and expected to miss at least two more games.
CBB Betting Trends:
- Bruins are 5-7-1 ATS this season
- Bruins OVERS are 7-6 this season
- Utes are 7-10-1 ATS this season
- Utes O/U are an even 9-9 this season
4* Free CBB Betting Pick: UCLA -9.5
A fully healthy Utah team would have a good chance of covering this number at home, but Carlson’s absence as an impact seven-footer on both ends of the floor.
While UCLA has fallen off from its preseason No. 2 ranking, it is still a very good team that has proven it can win away from home with too much firepower for this current version of Utah to handle.
Take the Bruins on the road to cover as the far better team.
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