Utah Valley vs UTRGV 1/20/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros will travel to the UCCU Center to take on the Utah Valley Wolverines this Thursday night in College Basketball action.

The UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros snapped their 4-game losing streak and improved to 6-11 on the season after defeating the Chicago State Cougars, 85-63, this past Thursday. UT Rio Grande Valley led by a 40-34 margin at halftime and had no trouble pulling away for the victory in the 2^nd half after opening the 2^nd half on a 10-0 run. UT Rio Grande Valley shot 54.7% from the field & 36.8% from beyond the arc while holding Chicago State to just 34.8% shooting from the field & 23.3% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for the Vaqueros was Mike Adewunmi who had a double-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, & 1 steal.

On the season, UT Rio Grande Valley is averaging 73.4 ppg on 44.9% shooting from the field. The Vaqueros are averaging 6.8 three-pointers per game on 33.0% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, UT Rio Grande Valley has been led by Justin Johnson (16.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.6 apg), Marek Nelson (10.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.8 spg), Mike Adewunmi (9.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.4 apg), & Ricky Nelson (9.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 4.1 apg).

Defensively, UT Rio Grande Valley is allowing their opponents to average 78.3 ppg on 44.3% shooting from the field. The Vaqueros have a rebound margin of -4.8 and a turnover margin of -1.2.

The Utah Valley Wolverines lost their 2^nd straight game and dropped to 11-6 on the season after being defeated by the California Baptist Lancers, 75-73, this past Saturday. Utah Valley fought back from a 61-48 deficit with just 7:13 left in regulation to tie the game late, however, California Baptist was able to hang on for the victory a Ty Rowell jumper gave the Lancers the lead for good with just :41 seconds left in regulation. Utah Valley shot 4        5.6% from the field & 33.3% from beyond the arc while allowing California Baptist to shoot 44.9% from the field & 53.3% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for the Wolverines was Fardaws Aimaq who had a double-double with 27 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, & 1 block.

On the season, Utah Valley is averaging 75.1 ppg on 46.7% shooting from the field. The Wolverines are averaging 6.9 three-pointers per game on 36.4% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, Utah Valley has been led by Fardaws Aimaq (19.9 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.6 bpg), Connor Harding (12.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg), Le’Tre Darthard (10.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.5 apg), & Blaze Nield (8.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.2 spg).

Defensively, Utah Valley is holding their opponents to an average of 65.9 ppg on 39.0% shooting from the field. The Wolverines have a rebound margin of 8.2 and a turnover margin of -3.2.

The Vaqueros are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games, however, are just 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. Utah Valley. The Wolverines are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games & just 3-6 ATS in their last 9 Thursday games.

UT Rio Grande Valley has been led by their offense which ranks 147^th in scoring offense & 143^rd in FG%, however, the Vaqueros have struggled defensively and currently rank just 335^th in scoring defense & t-260^th in defensive FG%. Utah Valley has been great on both ends of the court this season and come into this game ranked t-110^th in scoring offense, 96^th in scoring defense, & 22^nd in defensive FG%.

Utah Valley has disappointed me over their last two games against Seattle U & California Baptist, however, the Wolverines are still one of the best teams in the WAC and have one of the best players in the country in Fardaws Aimaq. UT Rio Grande Valley is just 2-6 on the road this which includes losing their last two games vs. Sam Houston & SFA, and as I think Utah Valley has no trouble putting up plenty of points on the Vaqueros defense at home, I think the Wolverines win these one by 13-15 points and cover this home spread. Good Luck!