Orleans Arena hosts a pair of intriguing college basketball matchups on Tuesday night. Both games are 2023 NIT semifinal clashes, with the UAB Blazers facing the Utah Valley Wolverines in the second tilt. UAB is 28-9 overall, including 15 wins in the last 17 games. Utah Valley is 28-8 overall, including a 25-4 mark in the last 29 games. The winner will advance to face either North Texas or Wisconsin in the tournament final.

Caesars Sportsbook lists the Blazers as 3-point favorites for this 9:30 p.m. ET tip. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 151 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 -4
  • Utah Valley vs. UAB over/under: 151 points
  • Utah Valley vs. UAB money line: UAB -205, UVU +270
  • 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’s offense is impressive this season. The Blazers are averaging 1.11 points per possession and ranking in the top 10 nationally with a 36.1% offensive rebound rate. UAB is also above-average in 3-point accuracy, free throw accuracy, turnover avoidance and assists per game, with Jordan Walker giving the Blazers a tremendous lead option. Walker is in the top eight of the country in scoring (22.4 points per game) and free throw attempts, and he is facing a Utah Valley defense that is strongly below-average in turnover creation rate (16.4%) and steal rate (8.4%) this season. 

On the other end, UAB is stout against opposing shooters, allowing 47% on 2-point attempts and 31.9% on 3-point attempts. The Blazers also create effective havoc on defense with a 19.4% turnover rate, 11.4% block rate and 11.0% steal rate during the full 2022-23 season.

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 well over 70% 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 well over 70% 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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