Rogers' Late Show SPECIAL >> 7-3 This Week!
(NCAAB) Utah vs. California,
Point Spread: -2.50 | -102.00 California (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 15-6 (6-3 Pac 12) Utah Utes will visit the Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, as the 15-6 (6-3 Pac 12) Cal Golden Bears play host. The Utes opened last season's Pac-12 schedule with road losses to Stanford and California, so are sure hoping for a more enjoyable visit to the Bay Area this weekend (will play at Stanford on Saturday). The Bears beat rival Stanford 66-55 last Sunday, for their fifth victory in their last six games.

Utah: The Utes have won three of their last four games to move into a three-way tie for third place in the Pac-12, as they prepare to visit Cal on Thursday. Utah struggled with Oregon's size in last week's 73-67 loss to Oregon but bounced back with a strong effort against Oregon State in an 86-78 win.Utah is an outstanding shooting team (51.8% ranks third), which scores 81.1 PPG (33rd). The 6-9 Kuzma (15.6 & 10.1) and the 6-8 Collette (14.3 & 5.10 are the team's top-two scorers but a quartet of guards are solid contibutors. The group is led by Bonam (13.2), along with Daniels (11.4 & 4.6(), Barefield (10.6) and Zamora (8.8).

California: Playing for the first time in eight days, Ivan Rabb overcame a slow start to finish with 25 points and 13 rebounds (his 10th double-double this season) plus the Bears received 17 points from senior wing Jabari Bird and shot 64.7 percent in the second half of last Sunday's win over Stanford. Freshman PG Charlie Moore (14.0 & 3.4 APG) recorded a career-high eight assists for the Bears, who are 15th in the nation in scoring defense at 62.4 PPG but have battled with inconsistent play for much of the season. The 6-11 Rabb (15.6 & 10.7) and Bird (14.1 & 4.5) combined for 42 of the team's 66 points in the win over Stanford but the Bears need more scoring from players such as guard Grant Mullins (9.2), who was held to six points in 37 minutes against the Cardinal.

The pick: Utah has won five of the last six meetings between the two schools, including an 82-78 overtime victory in last season's Pac-12 tournament. However, the Bears are 12-2 SU at home, where opponents are averaging only 58.9 PPG. Make Cal an 8* play.