The Utah Valley Wolverines (28-8) and UAB Blazers (28-9) clash in a Tuesday night showdown in Las Vegas. The NIT semifinal at Orleans Arena is slated to tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Utah Valley vs. UAB school odds as we make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Utah Valley — an unseeded team in these brackets — has advanced to this game on wins over 2-seed New Mexico, No. 3 Colorado and No. 4 Cincinnati. The regular-season champions (15-3) of the Western Athletic Conference are 7-1 since Feb. 25 and 12-2 since Jan. 28.
UAB — a No. 4 seed in the tournament — has earned wins over Southern Mississippi, Murray State and No. 2 Vanderbilt. The Blazers held those three foes to an aggregate 35.4% mark from the floor. UAB is 11-1 over its last 12 games.
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Utah Valley vs. UAB odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:02 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Utah Valley +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | UAB -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Utah Valley +4.5 (-115) | UAB -4.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 151.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Utah Valley vs. UAB picks and predictions
Prediction
UAB 76, Utah Valley 69
Moneyline
Five of Alabama-Birmingham’s 9 losses have been by 3 points or less. The Blazers’ lone loss since Feb. 9 was in the Conference USA Tournament title game. It was against the FAU Owls, so that loss has aged pretty well.
Quite a bit of Utah Valley’s value — especially on the offensive end — is tied up in how the Wolverines have performed at home.
Peg UAB as being a 60% proposition here, maybe slightly higher. There is leverage on a Blazers -145 tag, but lay off the current price. STEER CLEAR.
Against the spread
Utah Valley has allowed a mere 38.9% mark on field goals since Jan. 28. Against a UAB team that will generate a lot of looks in the paint, look for some regression on that trend.
Both sides will pass up perimeter opportunities and look to leverage strengths down low. Defending that area is more of a strength for the Blazers. And UAB is the better offensive rebounding team.
Figure the Blazers winning this game to get to the NIT title game. And with a couple possessions to spare. BACK THE BLAZERS -4.5 (-105).
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Over/Under
Both teams play at tempos in the top quartile of all NCAA-I squads. But the play here runs counter to that expected fast pace. Both sides defend well, and neither shoots many 3-pointers. In the neutral venue, back the UNDER 151.5 (-110).
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