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The 2023 NIT showcases a doubleheader of semifinal matchups on Tuesday in Las Vegas. Orleans Arena hosts the games, with the nightcap putting the Utah Valley Wolverines against the UAB Blazers. Utah Valley is 28-8 this season after wins over Colorado and Cincinnati in the last two rounds. UAB is 28-9 overall after an impressive win over Vanderbilt in the quarterfinal.
Tipoff is at 9:30 p.m. ET in Las Vegas. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Blazers as 3-point favorites, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 151.5 in the latest Utah Valley vs. UAB odds. Before locking in any UAB vs. Utah Valley picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Div. I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters the Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Tournament 85-54 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also went 6-1 on top-rated picks during the first two weeks of March Madness. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on UAB vs. Utah Valley and revealed its coveted picks and predictions for the NIT 2023. You can head to SportsLine to see the picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Utah Valley vs. UAB:
- Utah Valley vs. UAB spread: UAB -3
- Utah Valley vs. UAB over/under: 151.5 points
- Utah Valley vs. UAB money line: UAB -160, UVU +135
- Utah Valley: The Wolverines are 7-1 against the spread in the last eight games
- UAB: The Blazers are 5-1 against the spread in the last six games
- Utah Valley vs. UAB picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Utah Valley can cover
Utah Valley is balanced on offense with four players averaging in double figures this season. The Wolverines are above-average in offensive efficiency, scoring 1.08 points per possession, and Utah Valley shares the ball beautifully with 16.1 assists per game. Utah Valley is also above-average in free throw creation (21.0 attempts per game), 2-point accuracy (52.7%) and free throw accuracy (73.8%), with UAB landing well below the national average with a 71.1% defensive rebound rate.
Utah Valley is even better on defense, including a top-25 national mark in overall efficiency. The Wolverines are in the top five of the country in field goal percentage allowed (39.0%) and 2-point percentage allowed (42.9%), with Utah Valley leading the nation with 6.6 blocked shots per game. UAB shoots less than 50% inside the arc, and Utah Valley holds opponents to 30.8% shooting from long distance this season.
Why UAB can cover
UAB is led by a dynamic senior guard in Jordan Walker. He ranks in the top five of the country with 22.4 points per game, and Walker is in the top eight nationally in free throw creation while converting 85.3% of attempts at the line. Walker is the engine of a prolific offense that scores 111.0 points per 100 possessions this season. In addition to his shot creation, UAB is excellent on the offensive glass, securing 36.1% of missed shots to rank in the top eight of the country.
The Blazers are also in the top 25 nationally with 22.2 free throw attempts per game, and UAB is above-average in making 35.5% of 3-point attempts and 73.8% of free throw attempts. Ball security should also be a strength in this matchup, as UAB is above-average in turnover avoidance and Utah Valley creates a takeaway on only 16.4% of defensive possessions.
How to make Utah Valley vs. UAB picks
The model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 147 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits almost 80% of the time. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins UAB vs. Utah Valley? And which side of the spread hits almost 80% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.
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