Oregon Ducks vs. Utah Utes Prediction & Game Preview - 2/5/2022

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Where to watch: FS1

DraftKings: Oregon -3.5

BetMGM: Oregon -3.5

Caesars: Oregon -3.5

Oregon: 14-7 (7-3 Pac-12)

Utah: 9-13 (2-11 Pac-12)

Good luck trying to find a team that's as bad as the Utah Utes right now in a Power-5 conference.

The Utes have just been as unreliable of a team as you'll find in all phases. Things aren't getting any easier against the Oregon Ducks at home on Saturday, and it's not a great time for the red-hot Ducks to be coming to Salt Lake City.

Oregon has reeled off eight wins in nine games since their home loss to then-No. 1 Baylor back on Dec. 18. Those wins have included a 7-1 run in eight conference games with victories at UCLA and USC, and a season sweep of Oregon State.

The Ducks are recently coming off a 66-51 win at Colorado in which Jacob Young led them in scoring for the second straight game with 21 points. Oregon's defense held Colorado to just 5 of 19 from 3-point range and held the Buffs to 38.8 percent shooting.

Oregon's backcourt has the potential to give teams problems come March. Will Richardson had only 13 points on 6 of 12 shooting, but he had a game-high five steals against the Colorado team that played only eight players.

And if that combination of offense and defense can live up to the challenge again, we'll be seeing the Utes lose for the 11th time in 12 games. Utah did snap a 10-game losing streak on Thursday with a 25-point win over Oregon State thanks to five players scoring in double figures, primarily thanks to Lazar Stefanovic making five 3-pointers for 15 points.

Utah's only chance at keeping this game close is continuing to share the ball as it did against the 3-win Beavers. When Both Gach is giving you 11 points and 10 assists off the bench and the team has 23 assists on 29 made baskets, that's the right formula for success.

But that doesn't help the fact that Utah has been abysmal as of late and can't be trusted on the books. Utah is 0-4 against the spread following a straight-up win this season, and the Utes are also 0-3-1 ATS in its last four after a straight-up win by 20 or more.

Meanwhile, the Ducks find themselves at 5-1 ATS in their last six, and the over cashing in four of the last five against teams with a losing record. There are just times to know when a team just isn't good, accept it, place the bet and move on. Give me Oregon in what should be a comfortable win on the road. Oregon by 16

The over is 51-29 in Oregon's last 80 games.

Oregon is 52-13 straight up over the past three seasons as a favorite.

Utah is 15-23 ATS as an underdog the past three seasons.

The over is 13-4 when Utah attempts to avenge a loss from earlier in the season.

PG: Will Richardson

SG: Jacob Young
SF: De'Vion Harmon
PF: Quincy Guerrier
C: N'Faly Dante

PG: Rollie Worster

SG: Gabe Madsen
SF: Marco Anthony
PF: Lazar Stefanovic
C: Riley Battin