Chicago State vs. Utah Valley Prediction and Odds for WAC First Round

Tuesday’s college basketball nightcap features an opening-round game in the Western Athletic Conference between the Chicago State Cougars and Utah Valley Wolverines.

While this game is a tournament matchup, the Cougars are a pretty bad team that will likely just serve as cannon fodder for their first-round opponents.

The spread of this game is currently at 12.5 in favor of the Wolverines who finished seventh in the WAC with a 10-8 conference record. The Cougars, on the other hand, won just three conference games all year and finished in 11th.

One of the 15 WAC losses that the Cougars suffered was a 14 point trouncing by these very same Wolverines. Here are the current odds for this WAC Tournament battle, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Chicago State vs. Utah Valley Odds, Spread, and Total

Spread:

• Chicago State +12.5 (-110)
• Utah Valley -12.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

• Chicago State +600
• Utah Valley -900

Total: 132.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Chicago State vs. Utah Valley Prediction and Pick

If you haven’t already guessed, I have very little faith that the Cougars can hang with the Wolverines in this opening-round matchup. Their scoring defense ranks at 290th in the nation and fails to do anything even at an average level. Not to be outdone, their offense is comically bad and rank 335th. There are only 358 teams in the country.

So, not so great for the Cougars here who score an average of just 62.6 points per game. Looking over their stats there is literally not a single thing they do well. Not even just OK. On the TeamRankings main stats page, the Wolverines only have one single stats that puts them in the top 100 on either side of the ball: 3-point attempts per game.

This is hilarious because they make just 31.2 percent of them. 

Utah Valley, on the other hand, has a defense that will likely shit their opponents down completely. This is not a powerhouse team by any stretch, but they are basically playing against an AAU team at this point and should breeze right past.

Usually, I would shy away from a spread this big in a game with a total this small. But the spread is where it is because I don’t think the bookies believe the Cougars can score either. 

Pick: Utah Valley -12.5 (-110)

Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE.