Sunday college basketball and we will see the Utah Utes travel to the Galen Center to take on the USC Trojans. The game has a start time of 2:30 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on ESPN U. Current Vegas betting odds have Utah listed as 10.5 point favorites, while the total is set at 132.5.
Analysis: The Utah Utes come in having won 9 of their last 11 games, which puts them at 16-4 record for the year. Utah does come in off a bad 10 point road loss to UCLA, which drops them to 6-2 in the Pac-12. Utah has gone 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record and 39-17-1 ATS in their last 57 vs. the Pacific-12. The Utes have been a solid offensive team this year, ranking 44th in scoring (74.3 ppg), 6th in shooting (49.9%), 8th in 3 point shooting (41.1%) and 200th in FT shooting (68.2%). Defensively the Utes have been very good as they come in ranked 12th in points allowed (57.2 ppg), 25th in defensive FG% (38.3%) and 172nd in 3 point defense (33.4%).
The USC Trojans have struggled of late as they have lost 5 in a row and 7 of their last 8. Their losing ways started when Pac-12 season started as they are just 1-7 in conference play so far, while going just 9-11 over for the year. USC has gone 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600, but just 19-39-2 ATS in their last 60 home games. The Trojans have been an average offensive squad this year, ranking 158th in scoring (68.4 ppg), 258th in shooting (41.9%), 282nd in 3 point shooting (31.2%) and 298th in FT shooting (65.2%). The defense for this team has not been all that good, ranking 285th in points allowed (70.4 ppg), 139th in defensive FG% (41.8%) and 115th in 3 point defense (32.4%).
Pick: Going to look for this one to go Over the total. This Utah defense has been excellent this year as they have allowed just 57.2 ppg overall, but on the road they have given up 62.2 ppg and they have allowed 69 points in each of their last 2 Pac-12 road games. The USc offense has not been great this year, but at home they have averaged 73.2 ppg, including 69.8 ppg in their 4 Pac-12 home games (Regulation Only). Utah has been a solid offensive team this year and even though they score just 60 ppg on the road we note that the USC defense has not been good of late, allowing 72.9 ppg (Reg Only) in Pac-12 play and 71.4 ppg at home for the year. Utah will get their points in this one. 75-65 sounds about right for this one.
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