The Arizona Wildcats take on the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City, Utah. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Arizona is favored by 18.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -3500. The total is set at 161 points.
Here are my Arizona vs. Utah predictions and college basketball picks for January 3, 2026.
Arizona vs Utah Prediction
My Pick: Utah +18.5
My Arizona vs Utah best bet is on the Utes against the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Arizona vs. Utah Odds, Spread
| Arizona Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-18.5 -110 | 161 -110o / -110u | -3500 |
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+18.5 -110 | 161 -110o / -110u | +1500 |
- Arizona vs Utah spread: Arizona -18.5
- Arizona vs Utah over/under: 161 points
- Arizona vs Utah moneyline: Arizona -3500, Utah +1500
Arizona vs Utah NCAAB Betting Preview
Arizona Basketball
If you took the metrics for Arizona at face value, it might be worth a shot at a future to win the National Championship. The past 20 champions all ranked in the top 20 in terms of adjusted defensive and offensive efficiency, and the Wildcats rank 10th or better in both categories.
They also have five players who average double figures, aiding this Wildcats team to 90.3 points per game. They haven't lost a contest and have won by at least 17 points in 11 of those games.
They win matchups primarily on the interior and use ball movement to set up an open shot. They rank in the bottom 10 in college basketball in 3-point shot attempts.
They're 23rd in adjusted field goal percentage, have a 57.5% effective field goal percentage and generate the third-best offensive rebounding rate on misses.
Utah Basketball
Utah has always been a tough place to play, and this Utes team has a plethora of scoring abilities. Terrence Brown leads the way with 21.5 points per game, but Don McHenry and Keanu Dawes each contribute with double figures.
As good as they are on offense, their defense struggles. They're 191st in defensive adjusted efficiency, and they rank outside of the top 300 in creating turnovers. Thus, they struggle with creating more possessions, and they more than likely will lose the rebounding battle.
To combat, they’ll need to lean on their shot making, ranking top third in both 3-point field goal percentage and 2-point field goal percentage.
Arizona vs. Utah Betting Analysis
The Utes come into this game a bit undervalued. And while I concede how good this Arizona team is, the road environment up in Salt Lake City will make it tough for the visitors to cover the spread.
I also love the scoring ability of the Utes.
Catching near 20 points, the value lies on the home team. I also expect some regression to how good Arizona has played to start the season.
Brown will have a big enough game to help keep the Utes close.
My Pick: Utah +18.5 (Play to +16.5)
