UCLA is better than Utah even when the Utes are full strength, but they probably won't be Thursday with guard Rylan Jones likely out again due to injury and forward Mikael Jantunen questionable because of COVID protocols. They combine to average 13.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists. Every little bit matters with a spread this tiny. Utah lost by 2 at UCLA on New Year's Eve when Jantunen and Jones combined for 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. The Bruins enter 0-5 ATS in their past five road games but we like a close victory as they battle for the Pac-12 regular-season title. If there were a packed gym of fans in Salt Lake City, we probably wouldn't back UCLA.

This line has flipped, and I agree with the move. UCLA is not ranked despite a 16-5 record and the Bruins are highly motivated to prove the pollsters wrong. They've won three in a row entering Thursday's visit to Utah. The Utes have lost their last three, which coincides with Mikael Jantunen's absence. He traveled to the country of Georgia to play for the Finnish national team, returning Saturday night. If the program adheres to the CDC recommendation of a 7-day quarantine, he won't play versus UCLA. Utes point guard Rylan Jones also could miss his fifth straight game with a shoulder injury. Back the Bruins.