CBB Picks: Will Utah cover as a slight favorite at home vs. California?

California vs. Utah Pick

Which Pac-12 team has the edge when Utah hosts California tonight at 11PM ET?

According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Utah is the slight favorite at home tonight, as the Utes are getting odds of -2 points against Cal. The over/under total for the game is listed at 133.5 points. Cal won the first meeting on Feb. 2, 77-75 in OT, at home. Utah has covered the spread in three straight meetings with the Bears.

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Cal snapped a three-game losing streak this past weekend with a 76-46 win over Oregon State. The Bears are now 19-9 overall and 10-6 in the Pac-12. They have covered in five of their last six games to get to 13-15 against the spread on the season. Cal is averaging just 69.6 points per game on offense this season while allowing only 62.2. When on the road, the Bears are giving up 68 points per contest. Jabari Bird is averaging 14.7 points per game to lead the team in scoring while Ivan Rabb is adding 14.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest.

Utah is coming off an 86-61 win at Colorado a week ago. The Utes are now 18-10 on the season and 9-7 in the Pac-12. Utah is just 2-4 against the spread in its last six games and now 13-12-1 against the spread on the season. Utah is averaging 78.8 points per game on offense while allowing just 70.6 on defense. The team recently suspended Devon Daniels, who was averaging 10.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Kyle Kuzma is the team leader with 16.2 points and 10 rebounds per contest.

Bet on California vs. Utah

Cal managed a slight win at home over Utah earlier this season, so I expect the Utes to have revenge on their minds tonight. Utah has won its last three at home and been playing competitively for the better part of a month. Utah’s offense at home is averaging 81.9 points per game, which should be enough to get past a Cal offense that struggled to score consistently.

 

COLLEGE BASKETBALL DAILY PREDICTION: UTAH -2