Utah vs Stanford College Hoops Lines Analysis

Utah vs Stanford College Hoops Lines Analysis

Written by on December 31, 2015

While the early games in the NCAA Basketball betting season still count in the final standings, the reality of the matter is that there are many who believe that the season doesn’t really begin until conference play starts. That time has come, and we have a great PAC-12 match-up on Friday, January 1 that sees the Utah Utes head into Maples Pavilion to face the Stanford Cardinal. Tip-off for this one is set for 9 PM EST on ESPNU.

A Close Analysis At The Utes vs Cardinal NCAA Basketball Lines Match Up

There are plenty of people out there who believe that the Utes are one of the favorites to win the PAC-12 this year, which means they are likely going to be the favorites for this one. Stanford will be sure to put up a good fight on home court, and may be worth a look ATS. View full TV schedule here.

Why bet on the Utah Utes

The Utah Utes come into this one ranked #21 and boasting an 11-2 record to start the season. They were able to slip into the top 25 thanks to a famous 77-75 OT victory over the Duke Blue Devils. That win seems to have spurred them on, as they have averaged 110 points in the 2 games after that big win. While the Utes seem to be rolling into form, it is worth noting that they lost their only road game of the season against Wichita State, which suggests they may be a little vulnerable here. The Utes are 4-6-1 ATS and 9-2-0 O/U so far this season. They are averaging 84.8 PPG, and are giving up 70.8 PPG.

Why bet on the Stanford Cardinal

The Cardinal are coming into this one with a less than stellar 7-4 record, but it should be noted that they are 6-1 when playing on home court this season. They are the winners of 2 straight, but went down pretty hard the last time they faced a ranked opponent. Stanford are pretty solid on the defensive end of the court, and they are going to have to be against a Utah team that is able to pile on the points pretty quickly. If they can slow the pace of the game down, they may be able to hang in there. The Cardinal are 4-5-0 ATS and also 4-5-0 O/U this season. They are averaging 72.7 PPG, and are giving up 65.4.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

While I think that Stanford may be able to keep this one close in the first half of the game, I believe they will eventually be worn down by the Utes, who will come away with a valuable road victory. Utah Utes 78 Stanford Cardinal 71