A PAC-12 showdown will take place today as the Utah Utes (15-10) and UCLA Bruins (14-11) face off at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. The Bruins are slight favorites here, as they are -2.5 (-110) point favorites.

The Utes have gone 6-8 in conference play overall and have gone 1-4 in their last five games. They are currently on a three-game losing streak, with their most recent defeat being a 68-64 outing against the USC Trojans.

Branden Carlson leads them in scoring with 16.8 points and in rebounds with 7.0 per game. He is also shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 70.2 percent when at the foul line.

The Utes maintain a consistent scoring average of 78.6 points with a 46.6 percent success rate in field goals, highlighting their effective teamwork with an average of 17.5 assists per game, creating ample scoring chances.

Defensively, they limit opponents to 73.0 points, resulting in a slightly positive point differential. Noteworthy defensive statistics encompass 39.6 rebounds, 4.4 blocks, and 6.3 steals per game.

The Bruins are 9-5 in conference action and are currently on a six-game winning streak. Their most recent win was a 64-60 performance over the Colorado Buffaloes.

Sebastian Mack has been key to the success offensively for the Bruins. He currently leads them with 13.5 points per game, along with 39.4 percent shooting from the field, and 72.0 percent from the foul line.

The Bruins consistently achieve an average of 66.1 points, highlighting a notable 51 percent shooting accuracy. To boost their offensive capabilities, a focus on improving ball movement is crucial, given their current average of 11.4 assists per game slightly trails behind their opponents.

Defensively, they limit opponents to an average of 63.9 points per game, offering a slim safety margin in comparison to their offensive output. Additionally, they showcase proficiency with averages of 34.7 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, and 6.0 steals per game, emphasizing their versatile ability to disrupt opposing teams.

The college basketball betting odds have been provided by MyBookie, with the UCLA Bruins as 2.5-point favorites at home. According to market insights, they have a 48.4 percent likelihood of winning.

The Utes have had too many issues lately to get back on track and this will be another tough test. You can expect this to be a low-scoring game, as the Bruins challenge teams to play at their pace. In addition, the Bruins have faced adversity long enough, so now is their time to shine.