Simulation Picks
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Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Understanding Public and Money
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Expert Picks
The line, which opened at Cal -1.5, has gone haywire. Can find no news-related justification for it, so I’m siding with a squad that has won three straight outright on the road. It’s been seven away games since the Utes could not cover, while the Bears have covered in one of their past five league encounters. Utah ranks third in Pac-12 scoring and fourth in points allowed, compared to 10th and third for Cal. Grab the points.
My projection model sees a four-point win for the Utes, who are a three-point underdog when they travel to face Cal on Thursday. The clubs have identical 6-3 conference records, and share common-opponent losses against Arizona, UCLA and Oregon. But the Utes have been more competitive in those contests, and their size advantage inside should be the difference against the Bears. Take the overlay with Utah on the money line.
The Utes are 5-0-1 ATS in their last six road games, and I think they're being undervalued here. They beat Cal in two of three matchups last season. Take the points with a Utah squad that shoots 51.8 percent from the field -- third-best in the nation.