The Utah Utes have never won in Tucson ever. Will their streak of misery in the desert end this Saturday when they play the No. 11 Arizona Wildcats on the road? Or will Arizona just keep on beating the Utes there? Read on for a preview of this Pac-12 matchup below. Register to bet and wager with your pick.
Betting Preview for the Utah Runnin’ Utes vs Arizona Wildcats NCAA Basketball Game on January 27, 2018
Where: McKale Memorial Center
When: Saturday, January 27, 2018, 5:30 PM EST
Line: Utah Runnin’ Utes (n/a) vs Arizona Wildcats (n/a)–view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: Fox
Betting on the Utah Runnin’ Utes (12-7)
Utah has to prevent another hot start by the Wildcats this Saturday. The Utes trailed by 14 at the half during the first meeting with Arizona this season, and failed to complete comeback in a 94-82 loss at home back in Jan. 4. The Utes actually shot well in that game overall, particularly from deep, as they made 12 three-pointers on 26 attempts. The Wildcats’ defense simply had no answer defensively at the bombs Utah was throwing at them in the second half, where Utah guard Sedrick Barefield poured in 20 of his team-high 23 points. Arizona still fronts a crappy defense that allows 71.4 points per game, which means Barefield and the Utes could light it up again in the rematch in Tucson. Barefield is just fourth on the team in scoring though with 10.6 points per game. Leading the Utes in that department is Justin Bibbins, who makes 14.2 points per game. Bibbins let Barefield to take over in the earlier date with Arizona, but still scored 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the field. Utah is eighth in the conference with 75.1 points per game. The Utes are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six road games against Arizona.
Betting on the Arizona Wildcats (16-4)
No matter how hard the Utes prepare for Saturday’s contest, no one among them will transform into a DeAndre Ayton clone. Ayton was a one-man wrecking crew for Arizona in their previous win over Utah, as the freshman biggie racked up 24 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and swatted away two shots in that game. He was the single biggest factor why Arizona held on for the win despite the scoring barrage from Utah, scoring 19 of his total points after the halftime. With Ayton in their fold, the Wildcats boasts of a length that should give Utah headaches again. Arizona outrebounded the Utes in the first meeting by a wide margin of 46-23. What’s scarier for Utah is that Wildcats top scorer Allonzo Trier had a rare quiet night in Salt Lake City, scoring only seven points in five total shot attempts. Trier is second in the Pac-12 with 19.8 points per game, and recently dropped 25 points in a win over Oregon. Utah’s defense is not something that would send shivers down Trier’s spine, especially when considering that Arizona has made 50 percent of their shots against the Utes this season. Arizona is 6-0 SU in its last six home games against Utah.
Writer’s Prediction:
Arizona wins, 79-75.
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