Pac-12 foes will collide when the Colorado Buffaloes (12-3) face the Utah Runnin’ Utes (11-4) at Coors Events Center. Action begins at 9:00 pm ET on Friday, Jan. 8 and can be seen on FS1.
The Buffaloes enter this game hoping for similar success after edging Stanford 56-55 in their last matchup. Josh Scott played a pivotal role, recording his seventh double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds. The Runnin’ Utes, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their 71-58 loss against California in their last game. Brandon Taylor played well for Utah, recording 15 points, five assists, and two rebounds.
Colorado is a slim one-point favorite at home against Utah. The matchup has an estimated Over/Under (O/U) of 147 points. The Buffaloes come into this game 12-3 Straight Up (SU) and 8-4 Against The Spread (ATS). Over their last 10 games, they have had success covering the spread (5-2). The Buffaloes are one of the best in Division I in terms of field-goal percentage, shooting an impressive .397 from beyond the arc.
Over on the other bench, the Runnin’ Utes have been a poor bet so far, with a disappointing record of 4-8-1 ATS. Their SU record, 11-4, hasn’t been quite as bad. Offensively, they average 81.9 points per game, which is good for 34th in the country.
These conference foes meet for what will be their first head-to-head battle of the season. Utah won the last game in the matchup, but the win was not enough to overtake Colorado in their recent head-to-head series. Its record is now 4-6 SU over the most recent meetings. With a 7-3 record, the Runnin’ Utes have the advantage ATS. Utah held the advantage in field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers twice in the last five matchups. On the other side of the court, Colorado never accomplished this feat in that span.
Predictions: SU Winner – Colo, ATS Winner – Colo, O/U – Over
Notes
Colorado is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games.
Colorado is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Colorado’s last 12 games when playing Utah.
Colorado is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Utah.
Colorado is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Utah.
Colorado is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Utah.
Colorado averages 80.1 points per game (ranked 54th). Utah, on the other hand, allows 70.8 points per game (ranked 175th).
Colorado averages 83.9 points per home game (ranked 72nd). Utah allows 69.2 points per away game (ranked 61st).
Ranked 26th, the Utah Runnin’ Utes have an offensive rating of 116.0. The Colorado Buffaloes rank 101st with a defensive rating of just 97.4.
The Utah Runnin’ Utes have one of the best field goal percentages this season, ranking 16th in the nation with a FG% of 49.8%. When their opponents record a similar or higher FG%, the Colorado Buffaloes are winless with a 0-1 record.
On average, Colorado attempts 21.0 three pointers and Utah attempts 21.0. Both teams have winning records when they have 20 or more three point attempts. The Colorado Buffaloes sit at 7-2 and the Utah Runnin’ Utes are 8-1.
Utah ranks 60th in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.28. Colorado is ranked lower at 133rd with an A/TO of 1.14.
Colorado, the sixth-ranked team in rebounding, registers an average of 43.7 rebounds per game. Utah ranks 45th with 40.5.
Utah ranks 252nd in offensive rebounds, while Colorado ranks at fifth in defensive rebounds.
On average, Utah forces a turnover rate of 13.7%. When Colorado turns over the ball at a similar or higher rate, the team has a stellar 10-2 record.
