The craziness that has been the 2017-18 college basketball season continued on Wednesday night with #1 Villanova going down to the St. John’s Red Storm, a team that has now become something of a giant killer. The teams sitting below the #1 spot now see a real opportunity to move up in the rankings, but there are some other teams in the top 25 who are probably just more concerned with securing a regular season conference crown. One of those teams is the Arizona Wildcats who are currently #13 in the nation, but who are also in the lead in the PAC 12 standings, which is why they come in as the College Basketball betting odds favorite for this contest.
Getting to the top of the heap nationally is impossible for the Wildcats, but winning the conference is certainly doable. The UCLA Bruins still have an outside shot at landing top of the heap in the conference, but to get there, they really need to go into Tucson and get a win. This may be the time to do it, though, as Arizona may still be a little fragile after losing their last game on the road at Washington.
Home is where the heart is for the Wildcats, as they are now unbeaten in their last 10 games in their own building. Their points for and against averages are very similar to what UCLA is at right now, so probably not much between these two teams. Arizona is 8-14-2 ATS and 14-9 O/U this season.
Bruins vs. Wildcats College Basketball Betting Preview & Pick
“It’s up to us to keep the trend going and winning. I have to get our guys ready and playing hard.”
Aaron Holiday, on the Bruins’ road trip to Arizona (via @TucsonStar). READ: https://t.co/dPDalNs3gp pic.twitter.com/Pcqo0ZJxE2 — UCLA Basketball (@UCLAMBB) 8 de febrero de 2018
- When: Thursday, February 8, 10 PM EST
- Where: McKale Center, Tucson
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: 570 AM (UCLA) / 1290 AM (Arizona)
- Live Stream: Watch ESPN
- College Basketball Betting Odds: Arizona Wildcats -9 (Over/Under at 157.5 points)
Team Records
- All: UCLA Bruins 16-7 / Arizona Wildcats 19-5
- Home: UCLA Bruins 13-3 / Arizona Wildcats 13-1
- Away: UCLA Bruins 3-4 / Arizona Wildcats 6-4
- ATS: UCLA Bruins 11-12 / Arizona Wildcats 8-15-1
- Over/Under: UCLA Bruins 13-9 / Arizona Wildcats 15-9
Duke at North Carolina NCAA Basketball Odds & Betting Preview
Recent Head to Head (Last 10 Games)
- Record: Arizona Wildcats lead 6-4
- Score: UCLA Bruins 72.60 / Arizona Wildcats 76.00
- Field Goal Percentage: UCLA Bruins 43.50 / Arizona Wildcats 45.57
- Rebounds: UCLA Bruins 32.50 / Arizona Wildcats 38.00
- 3 Point Shots: UCLA Bruins 56-181 / Arizona Wildcats 68-186
- Steals: UCLA Bruins 5.60 / Arizona Wildcats 5.20
Why bet on the UCLA Bruins?
The UCLA Bruins have been a little bit of a rollercoaster ride in conference play but are currently on the up after winning 3 straight games. They needed those wins, as they were on a skid that had seen them lose 3 straight before turning things around. While this is a solid run for UCLA, it’s worth noting that each of their last 3 wins has come at home, while they have lost their last 2 on the road. The Bruins are now 7-4 in conference play, which puts them 2 games back of Arizona on top. The Bruins need some help if they are to make it all the way to the top of the PAC 12 standings before the season ends, but they can certainly help their own cause by winning this one and closing the gap a little. Offensively, UCLA has been solid this season, averaging just shy of 83 PPG, but they have not been as good on the defensive end of the court. UCLA are 11-12 ATS and 13-10 O/U this season.Team Statistics
Offense- Total Score: 82.91
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.83
- Three-Point Percentage: 37.76
- Free Throw Percentage: 71.96
- Total Rebounds: 38.61
- Total Score: 75.78
- Field Goal Percentage: 42.14
- Three-Point Percentage: 34.61
- Free Throw Percentage: 67.90
- Total Rebounds: 36.39
Why bet on the Arizona Wildcats?
It was a disappointing end to last week for the Wildcats, as they took a 78-75 loss to Washington on Saturday night. That defeat dropped them to #13 in the national rankings, whilst also helping tighten things up in the race for the PAC 12 regular season crown. At 9-3 in conference play and a 1-game lead, the Wildcats are still in control of their own destiny, and a win at home this one might well be enough to get them back on track. Let’s not forget that they were on a 7-game winning run before dropping that game to the Huskies.
Home is where the heart is for the Wildcats, as they are now unbeaten in their last 10 games in their own building. Their points for and against averages are very similar to what UCLA is at right now, so probably not much between these two teams. Arizona is 8-14-2 ATS and 14-9 O/U this season.
Team Statistics
Offense- Total Score: 82.21
- Field Goal Percentage: 51.35
- Three-Point Percentage: 39.32
- Free Throw Percentage: 76.74
- Total Rebounds: 35.71
- Total Score: 71.75
- Field Goal Percentage: 43.23
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.65
- Free Throw Percentage: 73.32
- Total Rebounds: 29.42
Latest College Basketball Betting Trends
- UCLA is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games
- UCLA is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of UCLA’s last 6 games on the road
- Arizona is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- Arizona is 16-2 SU in its last 18 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Arizona’s last 5 games
