by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Jan 15, 2022
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: McKale Center, Tucson, AZ
Where to watch: PAC12
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Arizona -20.5
BetMGM: Arizona -20.5
Caesars: Arizona -20.5
Season record
Utah: 8-8 (1-5 Pac-12)
No. 6 Arizona: 13-1 (3-0 Pac-12)
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Utah - Arizona preview, analysis and prediction
I don't think we'll need to spend too much time on this one. The Arizona Wildcats will make quick work of the Utah Utes on Saturday.
It's not often you'll find this large of a discrepancy in the Pac-12, but we know which teams are at the top of the hill and which are at the lowest of lows. The Wildcats find themselves at the top of the barrell, ranked sixth in the country and with only one loss on the ledger.
But since that 77-73 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers has not ultimately changed the direction of the Wildcats. They responded with consecutive convincing victories at home against Washington (16 points) and Colorado (21 points).
Arizona's athleticism and defense has long gotten them to a top team in the Pac-12, and this game against Colorado was no exception. The Wildcats held Colorado to just 32.8 percent shooting and only 4 of 20 from 3-point range. That's holding an 11-win team that is off to a great start to those numbers, mind you.
"We started off the game with good effort and then we kind of let our guard down," Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. "The guys responded and played a great second half, especially defensively. For us it's no secret: defense is a kick-starter for our offense."
Justin Kier and Azuolas Tubelis had 14 points each (Kier did it off the bench in just 15 minutes) and Arizona only needed seven made 3-pointers to really put this game on ice.
Arizona's 88.9 points per game is second-best in the country, and while that number hasn't come down, the Wildcats have been keeping teams to just 64.4 points. It's easy to sneeze at Arizona being the 80th best scoring defense, but it's also holding teams to a third-best 36.5 percent shooting while the Wildcats shoot nearly 50 percent.
Utah's offense in terms of points, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage are ranked 189th or worse. Add in the fact they've lost four straight, three of them being in double digits, does not forgive Utah the fact that the Utes have been an eyesore.
Utah's 1-5 start in conference play has certainly been an indictment that the Utes don't have much of a leg to stand on, plus the fact that the Utes are 0-4 on the road. Don't overthink this one. Arizona is the right play and this game should be over by halftime. Arizona by 22
It's not often you'll find this large of a discrepancy in the Pac-12, but we know which teams are at the top of the hill and which are at the lowest of lows. The Wildcats find themselves at the top of the barrell, ranked sixth in the country and with only one loss on the ledger.
But since that 77-73 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers has not ultimately changed the direction of the Wildcats. They responded with consecutive convincing victories at home against Washington (16 points) and Colorado (21 points).
Arizona's athleticism and defense has long gotten them to a top team in the Pac-12, and this game against Colorado was no exception. The Wildcats held Colorado to just 32.8 percent shooting and only 4 of 20 from 3-point range. That's holding an 11-win team that is off to a great start to those numbers, mind you.
"We started off the game with good effort and then we kind of let our guard down," Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. "The guys responded and played a great second half, especially defensively. For us it's no secret: defense is a kick-starter for our offense."
Justin Kier and Azuolas Tubelis had 14 points each (Kier did it off the bench in just 15 minutes) and Arizona only needed seven made 3-pointers to really put this game on ice.
Arizona's 88.9 points per game is second-best in the country, and while that number hasn't come down, the Wildcats have been keeping teams to just 64.4 points. It's easy to sneeze at Arizona being the 80th best scoring defense, but it's also holding teams to a third-best 36.5 percent shooting while the Wildcats shoot nearly 50 percent.
Utah's offense in terms of points, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage are ranked 189th or worse. Add in the fact they've lost four straight, three of them being in double digits, does not forgive Utah the fact that the Utes have been an eyesore.
Utah's 1-5 start in conference play has certainly been an indictment that the Utes don't have much of a leg to stand on, plus the fact that the Utes are 0-4 on the road. Don't overthink this one. Arizona is the right play and this game should be over by halftime. Arizona by 22
Betting trends
Utah is 6-20 ATS in its last 26 road games.
Utah is 19-28 ATS in its last 47 conference games.
Arizona is 11-6 ATS in its last 17 after covering as a double-digit favorite in the last game.
Arizona is 35-8 straight up in its last 43 home games.
Projected starting lineup
Utah:
PG: Rollie Worster
SG: Marco Anthony
SF: Lazar Stefanovic
PF: Riley Battin
C: Branden Carlson
SF: Lazar Stefanovic
PF: Riley Battin
C: Branden Carlson
Arizona:
PG: Kerr Kriisa
SG: Dalen Terry
SF: Bennedict Mathurin
PF: Azuolas Tubelis
C: Christian Koloko
SF: Bennedict Mathurin
PF: Azuolas Tubelis
C: Christian Koloko
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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.
