by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Jan 21, 2022
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Where to watch: PAC12
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Check back later
BetMGM: Check back later
Caesars: Check back later
Season record
No. 16 USC: 15-2 (5-2 Pac-12)
Utah: 8-11 (1-8 Pac-12)
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USC - Utah preview, analysis and prediction
It's almost the same feeling I have with the LSU Tigers. I can't seem to get away from the USC Trojans no matter how bad they have looked over the last week and a half.
And somehow, despite an underwhelming 3 point victory at Colorado on Thursday, I find myself here picking the Trojans to defeat the Utah Utes on Saturday, as reluctant as I may be.
I have given USC the benefit of the doubt many of times over the last week and a half. Even after the Trojans six point loss to Stanford on January 11th, and they're incredibly disappointing 10 point loss at home to the now surging Oregon ducks, I was hoping USC would find a way to emphatically rebound and handle a Colorado team that not many people have great expectations for.
Instead, the Trojans were tide 25-25 against the Buffaloes and held on for a 61-58 victory over a team that is considered to be one of the ones that will be in the middle of the pack come March. The Trojans somehow won this game despite shooting 37% from the field, but they held Colorado to 31% shooting and Colorado made only seven three point attempts.
And yet somehow, the Trojans made only three threes, only 12 free throws, and won the game.
Chevez Goodwin had 14 points and was dominant inside with 18 rebounds to offset a 6 of 17 shooting night. Isaiah Mobley was held to 13 points on 13 shots.
"He was 0 for 6 with two turnovers in the first half and didn't play very well," USC coach Andy Enfield said of Goodwin. "So he made his mind up in the second half to come out with the energy and he was terrific, get 18 rebounds, seven offensive, and just dominate the paint."
USC to this point has been able to be a stout defensive team that has relied on its athleticism in terms of rebounding and how to play in the post. When you take those two elements away, USC becomes a team that relies on elements of its game that they cannot win with.
You are starting to see that after the losses to Stanford and Oregon. And in order for people to start taking USC more seriously as the months roll on and conference tournament time is only a month and a half away, they have to take care of business against a Utah team that has lost seven straight games even though the last two have been decided by single digits.
Utah kept it close with No. 9 UCLA, but the Bruins are in the same boat as USC right now. UCLA is not a good team and they will need to figure it out before March. USC in my opinion, is a much better team then UCLA.
The Trojans should not have any trouble handling a Utah team that has given up nearly 70 points per game and his shooting only 41% from the field themselves. If USC somehow finds a way to lose this game the alarm bells need to go off in Southern California, there needs to be a state of emergency in Los Angeles, and we may never pick the Trojans in a must win game ever again. USC by 16
Betting trends
USC is 10-6 as a road favorite or pick the past three seasons.
USC is 6-5 ATS this season after two straight games as a favorite.
Utah is 15-20 ATS as a dog in its last three seasons.
Utah is 12-18 ATS in its last 30 off a conference loss.
Projected starting lineup
USC:
PG: Ethan Anderson
SG: Boogie Ellis
SF: Drew Peterson
PF: Chevez Goodwin
C: Isaiah Mobley
SF: Drew Peterson
PF: Chevez Goodwin
C: Isaiah Mobley
Utah:
PG: Rollie Worster
SG: Marco Anthony
SF: Lazar Stefanovic
PF: Riley Battin
C: Lahat Thioune
SF: Lazar Stefanovic
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.
