Utah vs Arizona State Odds
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 146.5 -110o / -110u | -275 |
| Arizona State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 146.5 -110o / -110u | +220 |
There’s nothing like some evening Pac-12 After Dark hoops. Sadly, it’s the last season we actually get to watch 11 p.m. ET tip-offs in the Conference of Champions.
For now, we’ll stay excited for a pair of unbeaten — Utah and Arizona State — meeting in Tempe.
Utah Utes
Utah is quickly approaching the AP Top 25, finally receiving votes in Monday’s poll. The Utes have their best team since Jakob Poeltl and Kyle Kuzma brought them to an NCAA tournament.
Big-man Branden Carlson is bar none the best big-man in the Pac-12. Carlson posted 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists against Washington State and 34 points, seven rebounds and seven dimes against Washington.
Carlson impacts the game in all ways, providing ball-handling, floor-stretching and shot-blocking as a center.
One of Utah's strengths is perimeter shooting. It shoots 38.9% from deep, led by Gabe Madsen’s 47% mark. He’s a major difference-maker in this difficult road game, especially when he can quickly explode for 20+ points.
The Utes play solid on both ends of the floor, sitting 20th in Offensive Efficiency, and 44th in Defensive Efficiency. Part of Utah's defensive success comes in the post, as the duo of Keba Keita and Lawson Lovering alleviates pressure from Carlson, putting him at the four and not the five.
Carlson is less-susceptible to foul-trouble when Lovering or Keita comes in and defends the post player for the opposing team.
The Utes may lack top-end talent outside of Carlson and Madsen, but the team is connected and plays well under Craig Smith. I love how this team operates, and it's a legitimate NCAA tournament, single-digit seed.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State swept the Bay Area schools — California and Stanford — despite leading for a grand total of two minutes. Stanford fumbled away a second-half lead, and California led by 15 points with five minutes left until ASU’s pressure caused turnovers.
This isn’t the “Guard U” era team. Instead, Bobby Hurley has a defensive-oriented squad that hopes to limit scoring. The Sun Devils rank 36th in Defensive Efficiency and a conference-worst 212th in Offensive Efficiency.
That's a stark-difference from the early teams Hurley coached at ASU.
The one thing that hasn't changed under Hurley is ASU's propensity for second-half comebacks. He owns the most amongst conference foes since taking the job in 2014. It's a staple of Hurley's tenure at Arizona State, not just a trend this year.
Point guard Frankie Collins is vying for Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, as he's averaging over two steals per contest. The athletic guard loves forcing pressure, uncomfortable looks and turnovers. He’s the head of Arizona State’s defensive snake.
Arizona State’s biggest offensive obstacle is shooting from deep; the team shoots only 29% on 3s this year. Two of the backcourt starters — Collins and Jose Perez — rarely launch from deep.
Plus, Adam Miller is connecting on just 30% of his perimeter jumpers in four games since becoming eligible. Miller is the one guy who could entirely shift the trajectory of ASU’s offense.
Moreover, some level of luck impacted Arizona State’s unblemished conference-play record. Surely, the Sun Devils won’t cut down double-digit second-half leads in every conference game, right?
Utah vs. Arizona State
Betting Pick & Prediction
Laying more than five points against a feisty team on the road in conference play is asking a lot, especially for a team that isn’t blowing opponents out.
Utah regularly plays teams close, like Washington and Washington State, who both led Utah for large portions of their respective games.
The Utes are better than Arizona State, but I’ll take ASU with the points.
Pick: Arizona State +6 (Play to +5.5)
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