The Arizona Wildcats (19-9, 9-6 Pac-12) visit the conference rival UCLA Bruins (18-11, 11-5) Saturday night at Pauley Pavilion for a 10 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Arizona-UCLA odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.
Arizona at UCLA: Three things you need to know
- Arizona has lost back-to-back games to the USC Trojans (57-48 last Thursday) and the Oregon Ducks (73-72 in overtime last Saturday). The Wildcats are still tied at No. 24 in the USA TODAY men’s college basketball poll even though they are in fifth in the Pac-12 standings.
- UCLA is tied with Oregon atop the Pac-12 with an 11-5 conference record. The Bruins come into this game on a six-game winning streak that includes a last-second 75-72 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils Thursday.
- UCLA smashed Arizona, 65-52, to start their current winning streak. The Bruins held Wildcats’ projected NBA lottery pick, Nico Mannion, to just five points on 2-of-14 shooting.
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Arizona at UCLA: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Prediction
UCLA 69, Arizona 63
Moneyline (ML)
This is a great spot for UCLA (+105), which has beaten Arizona (-129) in three of their previous four meetings. First, the talent is virtually similar as both teams have seven top-100 RSCI ranked recruits on their team. Second, UCLA stunned Arizona in Tucson as a 12.5-point underdog in their first game of the season, so you know the Bruins want to take the season series against their conference rivals. Third, the Bruins have a winning record against ranked opponents (3-2) while the Wildcats are just 1-4 against ranked foes so far this season.
BET UCLA +105. New to sports betting? Bet $50 on UCLA +105 to earn a $52.50 profit if they win outright.
Against the Spread (ATS)
Personally, UCLA +2.5 (-121) is on the fringe of too much vig for insurance. The last Arizona-UCLA meeting to be decided by two or less was all the way back in 2013 (14 Arizona-UCLA games ago). For what it’s worth, the Bruins are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six home games and 4-1 ATS in their last five games as an underdog.
I LEAN UCLA +2.5 (-121) for insurance on our moneyline play. New to sports betting? Bet $121 on UCLA to earn a $100 profit if the Bruins win or lose by two or less.
Over/Under (O/U)
Three of the previous four Arizona-UCLA meetings went Under the projected total. Outside of that, there isn’t a trend that pushes me in either direction. Their combined Over/Under record against ranked opponents is 6-4 but against Pac-12 teams they are a combined 14-16-1 O/U.
PASS ON THE TOTAL (135.5).
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