Jazz vs. Grizzlies prediction and odds for Sunday, January 8 (Memphis elite as home favorite)

Memphis Grizzles guard Ja Morant. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Memphis Grizzles guard Ja Morant. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Memphis Grizzlies find themselves in a familiar spot on Sunday, set as major home favorites against the Utah Jazz.

The Grizz are in the middle of a five-game winning streak and are just half a game behind the Denver Nuggets for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Utah, on the other hand, is in danger of falling out of the play-in tournament picture in the West. After a fast start, the Jazz are starting to show why many expected them to be one of the worst teams in the league, seriously struggling on the defensive end of the floor.

Memphis could be down Ja Morant (questionable, right thigh soreness) which would certainly move the line for this game.

For now, it appears that Vegas is operating as if he will play with the current line for this matchup:

Jazz vs. Grizzlies odds, spread and total

Jazz vs. Grizzlies prediction and pick

The biggest key in this game is going to Morant’s status, but the Grizzlies have been elite as home favorites this season, going 11-4-1 against the spread.

I am not sold on this Jazz team as a good bet at this point in the season, as the team is just 8-15 straight up on the road and has lost seven of its last 10 games to fall two games below .500.

The Grizzlies have plenty of offensive firepower to deal with this Utah team, especially since Utah is on the second night of a back-to-back and lost to the Chicago Bulls last night.

I would wait to see if Morant is officially ruled in, but if he is I’d be comfortable laying the 8.5 points. The Grizzlies should pick apart this Utah defense that has fallen to 27th in the league this season.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.