Time:<\/strong> 9:30 PM ET \/ 6:30 PM PT
Broadcast:<\/strong> ESPN+
Location:<\/strong> T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, MO
Spread:<\/strong> Utah -2.5 | Total: 157.5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UCF vs Utah Betting Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Utah has attracted some early money on Tuesday morning, but we’re struggling to see the support. The Utes lost four of their last five games, and the lone win came at home against Arizona State who barely has enough players to field a team right now. 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utah fired head coach Craig Smith in the middle of the season. The Utes lost their Senior Day contest against West Virginia after blowing a double-digit lead, then they lost their rivalry contest at BYU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have questions about motivation and everyone is looking around wondering who the next head coach is going to be, UCF is one of the last teams you want to see as your opening round opponent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s been a disappointing season in Orlando for Johnny Dawkins, but the Knights are going to make you work for 40 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These teams just played at UCF two weeks ago with the Knights earning a 76-72 home win. UCF’s defense forced Utah into 19 turnovers, and that is going to be the key storyline to follow in this one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the 16-team Big 12, Utah’s offense was No. 15 in turnover rate, giving the ball away on 19.9-percent of its possessions in conference play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UCF vs Utah Predictions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If this game is tight at the end and it becomes a free throw shooting contest, UCF is top-25 in the country in free throw shooting (77.9-percent) while Utah is bottom-10 (64.0-percent). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If this was a “normal” regular season game, we could probably find some more positives for the Utes in this matchup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But after back-to-back heartbreaking losses at the end of the regular season and playing without a true head coach, this is a nightmare matchup against a Knights team that wants to run and cause chaos for 40 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UCF vs Utah Prediction: UCF +2.5<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGoldSheet Top Picks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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