Arizona vs Utah Prediction 2/26/25 College Basketball Picks Today

In this article, we will formulate an Arizona vs Utah Prediction for this college basketball game on Wednesday,  February 26th, at the McKale Center. Let’s take a look at an Arizona Wildcats vs Utah Utes Pick. 

Can Coaching Change Help Utah?

Utah has let go of coach Craig Smith, and sometimes that’s all a team needs to go on a run. It hasn’t been a good season for Utah, but still, the firing seems to be at a bit of an odd time. Utah has won two of the last three games, but the loss came in the last game. The two wins came against the Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas State Wildcats. In the last game against UCF, Utah scored 72 points, but they still lost by four points. Utah shot 50.9 percent from the field, which was six percent higher than UCF, but it still wasn’t enough to pick up the win. 

Utah still sits with a 15-12 record overall, but away from home, they have gone only 1-7. Utah is averaging 75.1 points, while their defense is giving up 70.8 points per game. The offense is ranked 143rd while the defense is ranked 145th. One issue for this team is that the defense is giving up 37.59 points per game, and the defense needs to be better. Guard Gabe Madesn has been the top player, averaging 15.8 points while shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 33.2 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Why Utah Will Cover Against Arizona

• Utah has won six of its last seven night games against the Big 12 Conference.
• Arizona has lost three of its last four games against the Big 12 Conference.

Arizona Can’t Slip Up

It’s pretty simple in this game, Arizona can’t slip up, especially as they are playing for NCAA tournament seeding. Arizona is suddenly struggling, and they have lost three of the last four games. In the last game against BYU, they were down by three points at halftime, and they couldn’t fight back in the second half. Arizona actually shot 54.2 percent from the field, but they allowed BYU to shoot 55.4 percent from the field. No one could slow down Caleb Love, who put up 27 points, five rebounds, and three assists. In this game, the defense is going to need to be much better. 

Arizona has an 18-9 record and has gone 11-3 at home. Although its defense hasn’t always been great, its offense has been impressive, averaging 81.6 points, which is 30th in the league. Caleb Love is having a huge season, averaging 16.2 points while shooting 38 percent from the field and 30.2 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Matchup League Facts

• Arizona ranks 16th among Division 1 teams for assists per game this season (17.2).
• Arizona ranks 25th among Division 1 teams for free throw percentage this season (77.5%).
• Utah ranks 24th among Division 1 teams for rebounds per game this season (39.4).
• Utah ranks 48th among Division 1 teams for assist-to-turnover ratio this season (1.42).

Arizona vs Utah Prediction

I don’t expect Utah to get that high post-coach firing, but they will keep this game close. Utah’s strength all season has been the offense, and they will continue that success here. Arizona is giving up 70.8 points per game, but they have zero confidence after the way they played against BYU. Utah might not score that many here, but they will score enough. This game’s line should be closer to six or seven points. Back Utah against the spread. Both offenses are also going to run up in score. I really like both of these plays a lot. Maybe sprinkle a little bit on a same-game parlay.