With the NFL season complete, all your attention can go toward the college basketball standings. What better way to start than betting on the Utah Utes (17-9, 10-5 Pac-12) vs. the No.8 Arizona Wildcats (22-4, 11-4 Pac-12). Get ready, as this is an important game with two teams, and we are giving away Utah vs Arizona best bets.
As the month of February is already halfway through, the NCAAB odds are important as ever. Before you know it, it will be time to make NCAAB picks for March Madness. Who knows, the Pac-12 is a very competitive conference with good odds to win March Madness. Let’s get ready to bet on one of the best NCAA basketball games today.
Utah Utes vs. Arizona Wildcats Odds
Utah Utes vs. Arizona Wildcats Matchup Information
Utah Utes vs Arizona Wildcats
Location: McKale Center, Tuscon, AZ
Date and Time: Thursday, February 16, 2023, 10:00 PM ET
How to Watch: Pac-12 Network
Recent Scores for Last Game
Thursday night marks the first time since December 1 that the Utah Utes and Arizona Wildcats faced off. At the time, Arizona was ranked No.4 in the entire country out of all NCAA basketball teams, but that did not last long. On their home floor, Utah shocked the Wildcats with an 81-66 victory.
In the second and final game between these two, Utah looks to complete the sweep, and Arizona looks to tie the season series. A lot is on the line in Tuscon.
Utah Utes vs. Arizona Wildcats Analysis
Utah Utes Basketball Quietly Making a Name for Themselves in the NCAA
When it comes to having the attention of the country, Utah Utes basketball has been rather underrated. With ten wins in a tough conference, the Utes are quietly having a great season. Utah is looking like a team on its way to playing in March Madness, and another Quad 1 win would pay dividends for the Utes.
As the 3rd place team in the Pac-12, Utah has five scorers averaging at least 9 points this season. They are led by the stud big man Braden Carlson who leads the team in points with 16.5 and rebounds with 7.6. He also blocks a hefty 2.2 shots per game. Carlson scored 22 points against Arizona at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in December.
The Utah Utes are on a two-game winning streak, but that is coming right after they were on a two-game losing streak. In the last seven games, the Utes have only faced one team over .500 in the Pac-12. This battle against Arizona will be a big change of pace.
Covering the spread has been rather easy for Utah, as they are 14-12 on the season. Scoring points, however, has not been, as they are an abysmal 9-17 in the over/under. The Utes have only covered the spread once in their last four games.
Arizona Wildcats Suffer Shocking Loss, Look to Rebound
The Arizona Wildcats are one of the best teams in the country, and just last week, they were perhaps the hottest team in the country. The Arizona Wildcats score did not look too good in this one.
Their seven-game winning streak came to a halt at the hands of the Stanford Cardinal last Saturday. It was a game that shocked all of Wildcat Nation, and now they look to bounce back.
It is going to be all about the big men in the desert. We touched on Carlson, but it is time to shine some light on the monsters at McKale. Azuolas Tubelis is one of the best college basketball players this season. The 6-foot-11 Lithuanian is averaging 20.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Tubelis scored 20 points in the loss against Utah in their first go-around. His buddy down low, Oumar Ballo, is no slouch himself, as he averages 14.7 and 8.8. The center from Mali scored 22 points against Utah in their last affair.
Arizona has struggled against the spread at 12-13-1 this season, but they have covered six of their last eight games. As we discussed, the Wildcats had been hot prior to Stanford putting out the fire. Thanks to the offensive firepower of the Wildcats, they are an even 13-13 in the over/under this season.
Ironically, both of these teams have lost to Stanford this month, a team that is 5-9 in conference play. When it comes to the college basketball injury report for the Wildcats, there is nothing to report. For the Utes, Eli Ballstaedt is questionable with a concussion, and Gabe Madsen is out. Thankfully, injuries do not play a large factor in the Utah vs Arizona best bets.
Odds Breakdown
Utah Utes
Moneyline: +415
Spread: +10 (-110)
Over/Under: 146½ (-110) game total – 68½ (-115) team total
Arizona Wildcats
Moneyline: -550
Spread: -10 (-110)
Over/Under: 146.5 (-110) game total – 78.5 (-115) team total
Utah Utes vs. Arizona Wildcats Betting Pick and Prediction
When you get this late into the conference season, everything means so much more. This battle between the Utah Utes and Arizona Wildcats is going to be just as fun as the first time.
This time, however, it will go the way of the Wildcats. Take Arizona -10 (-110) against Utah. The season series is going to be split, with both teams dominating with home-court advantage.
These are the Utah vs Arizona best bets. Utah is known for having one of the best defenses in the country and a relatively poor offense. Arizona, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. They have one of–if not–the best offenses in all of college basketball and a defense that struggles.
Arizona has only one loss at home, and buckets will come early and often. This game is going to be dominated by the big men on both sides of the floor. Expect a classic in a huge Pac-12 game. Take the over 146½ (-110) in a game that will end Thursday night on a high note.
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