Abilene Christian Wildcats vs Utah Tech Trailblazers Picks and Predictions for Thursday March 12 2026
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The Abilene Christian Wildcats and Utah Tech Trailblazers meet in the WAC Tournament Quarterfinal on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tip-off is scheduled for 11:30 PM ET with television coverage on ESPN+. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily predictions and betting insights.
Wildcats Advance After High-Scoring Opening Round
The Abilene Christian Wildcats enter this matchup with a 14-18 overall record and a 5-13 mark in WAC play this season. Abilene Christian advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Tarleton State 84-78 in the first round of the WAC Tournament. Over their last five games, the Wildcats have recently won over Tarleton State, while also recently losing to UT Arlington, California Baptist, Utah Valley, and Utah Tech.
Abilene Christian averages 69.8 points per game while allowing 72.2 points per game this season. The Wildcats shoot 43% from the field, collect 31.8 rebounds per game, and average 13.2 assists per contest. Defensively, Abilene Christian contributes 2.8 blocks and an impressive 9.8 steals per game, often relying on aggressive perimeter defense to create turnovers.
In their opening-round win over Tarleton State, Yaniel Rivera led the Wildcats with 20 points, shooting 6-of-8 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from the free throw line. Bradyn Hubbard led the team with 6 rebounds, helping the Wildcats remain competitive on the glass. Abilene Christian shot 50% from the field and drew 45 free throw attempts, showing strong offensive aggression. However, the Wildcats now face a short turnaround after playing the previous night.
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Trailblazers Aim to Use Rest Advantage
The Utah Tech Trailblazers enter the WAC Tournament quarterfinal with an 18-14 overall record and an 11-7 conference mark, earning a bye into this round. Over their last five games, Utah Tech has recently won over Abilene Christian and Tarleton State, while also recently losing to Utah Valley in double overtime, Southern Utah, and UT Arlington.
Utah Tech averages 76.9 points per game while allowing 74.6 points per game this season. The Trailblazers shoot 47% from the field, collect 34.3 rebounds per game, and average 14.4 assists per contest. Defensively, Utah Tech contributes 3.2 blocks and 7.2 steals per game, often relying on balanced scoring and interior presence.
In their most recent game, Utah Tech fell to Utah Valley 104-101 in double overtime in a high-scoring battle. Ethan Potter led the Trailblazers with 28 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the field while converting 14-of-17 free throws, and he also led the team with 10 rebounds for a dominant double-double performance. Utah Tech hit 75% of its free throws and matched Utah Valley with 41 rebounds, showing strong interior play. With the rest advantage and a strong performance from Potter in the paint, the Trailblazers will look to control tempo in this matchup.
Abilene Christian Wildcats vs Utah Tech Trailblazers Pick
Abilene Christian Wildcats vs Utah Tech Trailblazers Spread Pick
- Pick: Utah Tech Trailblazers -5.5
Utah Tech holds the rest advantage and already defeated Abilene Christian earlier in the season. The Trailblazers have been the more consistent offensive team and also have a strong interior presence that could cause problems for the Wildcats. With Ethan Potter controlling the paint and Utah Tech benefiting from fresh legs, the Trailblazers should be able to create separation late in the game.
Abilene Christian Wildcats vs Utah Tech Trailblazers Total Pick
- Pick: Over 147.5
I like the over in this matchup because both teams have shown they can play in high-scoring games, especially Utah Tech coming off a 205-point double-overtime contest. Abilene Christian pushed the pace in its tournament opener as well, scoring 84 points. If the tempo stays high and both teams attack the paint aggressively, the total could push past the number.
Final Score Prediction: Utah Tech 80, Abilene Christian 72
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