Free NCAA Hoops Pick: UTEP vs. UAB CBB Odds
Looking for UTEP Miners vs. UAB Blazers NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Miners taking on the Blazers on Thursday, December 39, 2021, at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, AL. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all college basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NCAA basketball predictions like this Miners Blazers matchup.
2021 NCAA Basketball Handicapping
(7-5) UTEP Miners vs. UAB Blazers (10-3)
Date: Thursday, December 30, 2021
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Bartow Arena
CBB Moneyline Odds: UTEP +650 / UAB -950
CBB Betting ATS Odds: Miners +13.5 / Blazers -13.5 (Bet Now!)
CBB Betting Total: O/U 136.5
The UTEP Miners and UAB Blazers meet on Thursday evening to kick off their Conference USA schedules although the Blazers are heavily favored expected to take the win at home.
The Blazers have accumulated an 8 – 1 home record that has contributed nicely to their 10-win total in 2021. UAB has lost 3 games by a combined 11 points and they are 8 – 3 covering their lined games thus far.
The Miners just had their modest 3-game win streak snapped by Bradley last time out, 73 – 66. Braves stud Terry Roberts broke out for a season-high 26 points and 11 boards to lead the way as the Miner defense continues to struggle.
UTEP is ranked 314th trying to stop opposing 3-point shooters with an equally ugly 311th ranking allowing teams to shoot 45.4% from the floor.
UTEP Miners
Let’s try to not say defense and UTEP in the same sentence because this team has not slowed any good shooting team down in 2021. Hell, even the teams that aren’t shooting well this year are finding ways to have success against this Miners program so we might be talking about this total in a minute.
UTEP, at least, does shoot well from the free-throw line when they get there but getting there has been half of the problem. The offense as a whole has been touch and go and sometimes this team just struggles to find the net in a big way.
The Miners are ranked 297th in the nation shooting 41.2% from the floor and the 70 points per game have this program at 234th in the land in scoring.
Souley Boum is a big reason why that free throw percentage is up for this team because that dude is just a stud. Boum has only played 8 games this season but he is putting up 19.6 PPG on the verge of joining the 20-PPG club with a big night.
Boum shoots 86.4% from the line, 36.7% from distance, and 34.7% from the floor this season and you won’t miss #0 taking over when he feels like it. Boum has been a double-digit scorer in all 8 of his appearances this season.
Keonte Kennedy has no problem letting Boum do his thing although he can certainly do just as much with the ball in his hands. Kennedy is averaging 13.3 ppg and he brings in 6 boards a night while shooting an impressive 42.6% from the floor.
UAB Blazers
The Blazers don’t struggle on either side of the ball as their offense can score at will and the defense can shut you down time and again.
UAB ranks 18th in the nation scoring 82.2 points a night and the defense ranks 42nd only allowing 61 points a game. Hence, now you know why they are favored big at home to find a win on Thursday night.
For me, it is hard to ignore how tough this team is after seeing that West Virginia game the other night. Yes, it was a loss but you can learn a lot about a team even when they lose. UAB lost by 3 points to South Carolina, by a bucket to the Dons, and the 6-point loss to the Mountaineers was a close game throughout.
I don’t think the Blazers trailed by more than 4 points at any point of the game until that final minute but they rebounded with a nice win over MVSU and threw 100 points on the board.
Jordan Walker is a stud as he puts up about 16 points a night and shoots 40% from behind the arc. He is their assists leader but certainly needs to work on the turnovers.
CBB Betting Trends:
- Miners are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Miners are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Blazers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
- Blazers are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 home games.
Free UTEP Miners vs. UAB Blazers NCAAB Betting Prediction:
UAB 76 – UTEP 60… as I actually do think UTEP will be able to hang around for a minute but not for 40! UAB should be able to pull away late and keep control of this game.
4* Free CBB Betting Pick: UAB -13.5
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