by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Dec 21, 2021
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Where to watch: Pac-12 Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Utah -3.5
BetMGM: Utah -3.5
Caesars: Utah -3
Season record
Fresno State: 9-2
Utah: 7-4
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Fresno State - Utah preview and analysis
Recent form
Fresno State: won 83-48 vs. Cal Poly on Friday
Utah: lost 83-75 at Missouri on Saturday
The Fresno State Bulldogs have two losses this season; both have come on the road. That will change on Tuesday when Fresno State travels to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Utes.
It should be noted that Fresno's two losses have come against the California Golden Bears and the San Francisco Dons, two fairly good teams and one that will be a threat in the West Coast Conference as the season rolls on.
The Bulldogs are coming off a dominant 35-point win over Cal Poly in which they shot 52.6 percent from the floor and got 18 points in just 21 minutes from Orlando Robinson. Fresno State went 11 of 21 from 3-point range, whereas Cal Poly couldn't even come close to replicating at 7 of 29.
The Bulldogs held Cal Poly to just 31.3 percent from the floor and forced 15 turnovers.
Fresno State is 8-2 against the spread while covering the previous five, being favored in four of them; the loss to San Francisco saw the Bulldogs covering as 8.5-point, well, dogs.
They're 3-point dogs on Tuesday with Utah alternating wins and losses over its past five. The Runnin' Utes are coming off an 8-point loss to the Missouri Tigers, where they didn't have leading scorer and rebounder Branden Carlson due to health and safety protocols. The 7-foot junior will not play Tuesday.
David Jenkins Jr. had 18 points off the bench, while Marco Anthony had 16 points to go with eight rebounds. Both Gach also had 15 points, but went 3 of 9 from the floor for a Utah team that shot 42.1 percent overall.
Utah was outrebounded 41-33 and lost the game despite Missouri shooting just 4 of 21 from 3-point range. The Tigers did force 12 turnovers, however.
Prediction
The loss of Carlson will be a problem for Utah, which is a 3-point favorite going into this matchup. Utah will always be a tough challenge at home, but Fresno State is deeper and has more bodies at the ready when needed. Fresno State by 8
Betting trends
Fresno State is 13-12 ATS on the road in its last 25.
Fresno State is 8-8 ATS in its last 16 after allowing 30 points or less in the first half in consecutive games.
Utah is 6-1 ATS after three straight overs.
Projected starting lineup
Fresno State:
PG: Isaiah Hill
SG: Jordan Campbell
SF: Anthony Holland
PF: Leo Climerio
C: Orlando Robinson
SF: Anthony Holland
PF: Leo Climerio
C: Orlando Robinson
Utah:
PG: Rollie Worster
SG: David Jenkins Jr.
SF: Both Gach
PF: Riley Battin
C: Lahat Thioune
SF: Both Gach
PF: Riley Battin
C: Lahat Thioune
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
