The Jazz open their season tonight. Utah was one of the better teams after the All-Star break going 19-10. The Jazz put up the best defensive statistics in the league during that span.

Detroit played last night. But it's not the second game in two days factor why I'm fading the Pistons. Their legs are fresh this early in the season. It's the Pistons coming off a hugely satisfying 106-94 upset road win against Atlanta last night.

The Pistons aren't good enough or mature enough to handle a victory like that without suffering a letdown even returning to Detroit to play in their home opener. I also believe the Jazz are the better team. They certainly were down the stretch last season.

Utah has to play eight of its first 10 games on the road. It's the toughest opening schedule of any team. The Jazz can't afford to start off losing to the Pistons, a team they have beaten 18 of the last 21 times. Utah has covered in nine of its last 10 road games against the Pistons.