The Utah Utes may have blown their chance of even a share of the Pac-12 regular season title with a tough road loss to Oregon. The Utes aren’t through yet, though. They’re still just one game behind the conference-leading Arizona Wildcats, whom they meet on Saturday. But Utah mustn’t look too far ahead, as they still need to get through the Arizona State Sun Devils this Thursday.
Read on for our preview of this Pac-12 tilt. And in the Big Ten, fresh off its big win over Wisconsin, Maryland hosts a resilient Michigan team that recently took down Ohio State. Check out our preview of the Badgers vs. Wolverines.
[sc:MarchMadness ]
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Utah Utes Preview
Where: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City
When: Thursday, February 26, 9:30 PM ET
Line: Arizona State Sun Devils (+12) at Utah Utes (-12); total 129.5 – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Arizona State Sun Devils
The Arizona State Sun Devils (15-12, 7-7 Pac-12) are on a bit of a roll with three straight wins over Washington (78-68), UCLA (68-66) and USC (64-59). Their win over Washington was just their second road win of the season. ASU has gone just 2-8 on the road, and 4-5-1 against the spread.
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]Savon Goodman had double-doubles against Washington and UCLA as he averaged 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in those two games. But he and the rest of the Sun Devils struggled with their shot against USC. They shot just 33 percent from the field, their worst overall shooting performance since shooting 39 percent in a 76-59 loss against Utah on Jan. 15.
Leading scorer Gerry Blakes (11.3 points per game) had 10 points against Utah, the only Sun Devil to score in double figures. Blakes has not performed well against the top teams in the conference. In five games against Arizona, Oregon and Utah this season, he’s averaged just 8.2 points.
But Blakes has had some big road performances of late, with back-to-back 20-plus point performances in wins over Washington State and Washington. The Sun Devils will need a significantly improved showing from Blakes, as well as Goodman, if they hope to stay close to the Utes on the road.
Betting on the Utah Utes
The Utah Utes’ (21-5, 11-3 Pac-12) road struggles in conference play continued with a 69-58 loss at Oregon on Sunday. All three of Utah’s conference losses have come on the road. It’s been a different story at home, though, where the Utes are 7-0 (6-1 against the spread). They also have a plus-24.2 differential at home, the fourth-best in college basketball.
One of the lone bright spots in Utah’s loss to Oregon was leading scorer Delon Wright (14.3 points per game) rediscovering his shooting touch. The senior had 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting, the most he’s scored since dropping 21 on Arizona State in January.
However, Brandon Taylor and Jordan Loveridge, the team’s second- and third-leading scorers, have still been struggling with their respective shots. Taylor is just 5-of-18 (28 percent) in his last two, while Loveridge has scored 20 total points in his last three games.
But a game against Arizona State’s generous defense (they allow opponents to shoot 46.5 percent from the field, 10th in the Pac-12) could help Taylor and Loveridge to snap out of their slumps. The two combined for 27 points in their first meeting against Arizona State in Tempe.
Writer’s Prediction
Utah takes care of business at home as it wins and covers over Arizona State. Create a betting account now to take advantage of college basketball’s best homecourt advantages.
