The (6-2) Utah Utes will play the (3-3) Washington State Cougars this coming Sunday in Pullman. At Beasley Coliseum's Friel Court, the game will start at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. These are two of the top defensive teams in the Pac-12, so we have a Pac-12 matchup here.
The Utes defeated Arizona 81-66 before entering the match. They had their defensive focus on points, as they only allowed the Wildcats to shoot 35.2% from the field. The Cougars lost to the Oregon Ducks by a score of 74-60 prior to this game. They had trouble scoring because they only took 21.3% of their shots from beyond the arc.
Utah vs Washington Betting Odds
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Utah vs Washington Match Details
Fixture: Utah Utes at Washington State Cougars
Date and Time: Sunday, December 4 at 4:00 PM ET
Venue: Beasley Coliseum, Pullman, Wash.
Utah vs Washington Key Stats
The Utes defeated Arizona in their most recent game with a huge victory, but now they face a new obstacle. The Utes averaged 72.4 points per game while shooting 45.2% from the field on offense. The team's shooting percentage ranks 164th overall and 189th in terms of points scored per game.
The Utes have done well defensively as well. In their previous game, they shut out Arizona, and they intend to do the same in this one. They are giving up 57.9 points per game while only allowing their opponents to shoot 33.9% from the field. This represents the 23rd fewest points allowed per game and the second-lowest shooting percentage nationwide.
The Cougars are playing at home in an effort to avenge their previous loss to the Oregon Ducks. With a field goal percentage of 46.4%, they score 73.5 points offensively in every game. With the 115th-highest shooting percentage, this team has the 169th-most points scored per game overall.
The Cougars are incredibly resilient on defense. They have the 60th-worst defensive efficiency rating in the country, with an adjusted rating of 95.4. Right now, they are limiting their rivals to 64.3 points per contest and a field goal percentage of 43.2%.
Utah vs Washington Betting Prediction
The Cougars have battled against lower competition, and I don't think they can stay in this game. They lost to Oregon in their most recent meeting, and if they can't reliably make threes, they'll struggle. They frequently use deep balls, something the Utes have demonstrated they can stop. Since the Utes are a better team, I think they will be prepared for this road test. The Utes will cover the spread tonight.
Pick: Utes +3.5 (-118)
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