Utah vs Arizona Odds
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+12 -110 | 147 -110o / -110u | +460 |
| Arizona Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-12 -110 | 147 -110o / -110u | -650 |
In December, Utah knocked off Arizona 81-66 in Salt Lake City in the conference opener. The Utes have proven the win was not a fluke as they are 10-5 in the Pac-12, which is good enough for conference. They have won five of their past seven games and are 17-9 overall. However, their chances of getting an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament remain slim. Utah will looking to be complete the regular sweep of Arizona and boost its resume.
Arizona will be looking to avenge its earlier loss to Utah, but also to bounce back after being upset by Stanford. Arizona fell to the Cardinal 88-79 on Saturday and dropped four spots to No. 8 in the AP Poll. However, the Wildcats are still 22-4 overall and 11-4 in conference. They are in second place in the conference and in line for a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Utah won the first meeting this season, but Arizona has dominated this series. Arizona is 16-4 against Utah since the Utes joined the Pac-12, including every meeting in Tucson. This time, Arizona is a 10-point favorite.
Utah Utes
Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo make Arizona a difficult matchup for anyone on the interior. However, Utah has a seven footer to counter in Branden Carlson. In the first meeting, Carlson was one of the best players on the floor as he finished with 22 points (including five 3's). He is averaging 16.5 points, 7.6 points and 2.2 blocks per game. He's also shooting 36% from beyond the arc.
Carlson leads a balanced Utah attack. Guards Gabe Madsen, Lazar Stefanovic, Rollie Worster and Marco Anthony all average between nine and 11 points per game. Madsen is out for an extended period with a leg injury, but Stefanovic has stepped up in his absence and is averaging 14 points, 4.2 rebounds and four assists over his past five games.
Without Madsen, Utah is missing its best 3-point shooter, but Carlson and Stefanovic are capable shooters. 3's were a pivotal factor in the first meeting as Utah made five more than Arizona and won by 15 points. The Utes held Arizona to 35% from the field and 4-for-28 from beyond the arc.
Utah has been able to count on its defense. It ranks fourth nationally in field-goal percentage defense and eighth in 3-point percentage defense. It is 18th nationally in scoring defense and 19th in defensive rating. The Utes are 33rd in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Arizona Wildcats
Unlike Utah, Arizona has not been consistent on the defensive end this season. On Saturday, it allowed Stanford to score 88 points, shoot 61% from the field and 55% from 3. The Wildcats are 43rd in adjusted defensive efficiency. However, they have been better at home. In seven home conference games, Arizona is allowing 65 points per game.
The offensive end is where Arizona has been consistent. It ranks eighth nationally and leads the Pac-12 in scoring at 83.2 points per game. Arizona ranks 10th in adjusted offensive efficiency and it starts with Tubelis and Ballo.
Tubelis averages 20.2 points and 9.3 rebounds, while Ballo averages 14.7 points and 8.8 rebounds. Tubelis leads the Pac-12 in scoring and he and Ballo are the two top rebounders in the Pac-12. Arizona is fourth nationally in rebounds per game and outrebounds its opponents by 7.5 rebounds per game.
Tubelis and Ballo lead five double-digit scorers on the Wildcats. Courtney Ramey leads the team with 2.7 3′ per game and is shooting 41.7% from deep. Kerr Kriisa averages 2.5 3's per game and is shooting 36% from deep. He also averages 5.6 assists per game, leading the Pac-12. Arizona ranks fourth nationally with 19.5 assists per game.
Utah vs Arizona Betting Pick
Utah has cracked 70 points just twice in its past five games, including basically the past four without Madsen. Without Madsen's shooting to space the floor, the Utes will struggle to find enough offense to hang with Arizona. I also expect they will find a motivated Arizona team coming off its loss last weekend and also looking to avenge the contest in Salt Lake City.
Arizona has defended better at home this season and is 6-1 at home in Pac-12 play. Four of those six wins have been by double digits and it has won those games by an average of 14 points. In this spot, the Wildcats are -10 and I will back them to cruise to a comfortable home victory.
Pick: Arizona -10 |
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