Central Arkansas Bears vs Utah Runnin’ Utes Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Central Arkansas vs Utah NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Salt Lake City.

Central Arkansas vs Utah Prediction

Looking to win big? The Bears and Runnin' Utes face off at 10:30 ET on ESPN+. The Runnin' Utes are hosting the game at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, UT. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 152 points, and Utah is favored by -27.5 at home against Central Arkansas.

Central Arkansas vs. Utah Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Central Arkansas Bears at Utah Runnin' Utes
Where: Salt Lake City at Jon M. Huntsman Center
Date: Thursday, November 7th
Betting Odds UTAH -27.5, CARK +4000 | UTAH -20000 O/U 152

Bears Preview: Can Central Arkansas Deliver Being Underdogs on the Road?

Central Arkansas Bears Recent Game/Games

Central Arkansas faced a tough road test against BYU on Tuesday, November 5th, falling 88-50. The Bears went into the game as +34 point underdogs and were unable to cover the spread.

After trailing 46-23 at halftime, Central Arkansas managed just 27 points in the 2nd half while allowing 42. The combined score of 138 points fell short of the O/U line of 155.

Bears Offense Breakdown

Central Arkansas struggled offensively in their last game, scoring just 50 points on 34.5% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 40%, and they hit only 22.6% of their threes, going 7-for-31 from deep. At the free-throw line, the Bears connected on just 5 of 13 attempts, shooting 38.5%.

Elias Cato led the way with 21 points, hitting 3 of 6 from beyond the arc and shooting 69.2% overall. Egor Demin added 18 points and 11 assists, making 4 of 7 threes. Richie Saunders contributed 16 points and 8 rebounds, shooting 54.5% from the field and 42.9% from three.

Bears Team Defense

Central Arkansas struggled defensively, giving up 88 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 45% from the field. They were particularly vulnerable inside, where they allowed 64% shooting on two-point attempts.

From beyond the arc, Central Arkansas gave up 15 threes on 44 attempts, a 34% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 11 times, where they converted 7 attempts.

Runnin' Utes Preview: Does Utah Have What it Takes at Home?

Utah opened their season with a dominant 100-59 win over Alcorn State on Monday. Playing at home, the Utes were -24 point favorites and covered the spread, while the game’s total points of 159 exceeded the over/under line of 146.5.

Utah led 50-31 at halftime and continued their strong play in the second half, scoring another 50 points and holding Alcorn State to just 28 points after the break.

Runnin' Utes Offense Breakdown

Utah's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, scoring 100 points with a field goal percentage of 56.1%. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 73.7%, thanks to hitting 19 threes at a 50% clip and shooting 68.4% from inside the arc.

Gabe Madsen led the way with 27 points, hitting 6 of 10 from three, while Mason Madsen added 15 points, also making 5 threes. The Utes dished out 29 assists, with 10 offensive rebounds, and connected on 17 of 25 free throws (68%).

Runnin' Utes Team Defense

Utah's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 59 points while allowing the opposing team to shoot 56% from the field. They had a tough time defending inside, with the other team hitting 68% of their two-point shots.

From beyond the arc, Utah's opponents shot 50%, making 19 of their 38 three-point attempts. The Runnin' Utes also sent them to the line 25 times, where they converted 17 free throws.

Bears vs Runnin' Utes Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last five road games, Central Arkansas has averaged 66 points per game while allowing 77. The team's record in this stretch was 1-4 while going 4-1.
Through their last five home contests, the Runnin' Utes offense has averaged 74 points per game while allowing an average of 76. Utah posted an overall record of 1-4 while going 2-3 ATS.
Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, Central Arkansas has an ATS mark of 2-1 while going 0-3 straight up.
Spanning across their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Runnin' Utes have gone 8-2 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 8-2.