UCLA vs Arizona Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

UCLA vs Arizona prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Wednesday.

UCLA vs Arizona prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch: Thursday, February 3


UCLA vs Arizona How To Watch

Date: Thursday, February 3
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: McKale Center, Tucson, AZ
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: UCLA (16-2), Arizona (17-2)
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UCLA vs Arizona Game Preview


Why UCLA Will Win

What did UCLA do that was so right in the 75-59 win over Arizona two weeks ago?

It got out to a big start, Arizona couldn’t get the O going, and the Bruins kept pushing. But it was more than that.

UCLA hit half of its shots against the second-best defense in America.

Everything was working inside and out, the defense held the Wildcats to just 31% from the field, and this time around it has to stay just as hot and not allow the best rebounding team in college basketball to control things by forcing one-and-dones.

There wasn’t any need for offensive rebounds in the first game – UCLA just didn’t miss – but it’s got the ability to hold its own and come up with a few second chance points.

However …

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Why Arizona Will Win

UCLA isn’t going to be that amazing again from the field.

It’s not like it was a total aberration – the Bruins have hit 50% or better from the field six times – but the defense is too good on the inside.

The 47% on three that UCLA connected on was by a mile the best day anyone has had from the outside against the Wildcats. Once you start getting into volume shooting against them, forget it.

Yes, the Bruins can hit the offensive boards, but Arizona should be able to dominate for stretches up front.

There’s one big concern, though …

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What’s Going To Happen

Where are the Arizona threes?

The team is coming off its two worst shooting games of the year – UCLA and then in a fight against a mediocre Arizona State – and that’s coming from not being able to do anything from the outside hitting just 10-of-51 in the two games.

The Cats got away with it by living on the free throw line against ASU, but UCLA isn’t going to foul enough to matter.

Even so, at home in one of the games of the Pac-12 season, Arizona will find its shooting ability at times in the second half, the defense will be inspired after the problems the first time around, and this time around the rebounding margin will play a much bigger role.

UCLA vs Arizona Prediction, Lines

Arizona 72, UCLA 68
Line: Arizona -6.5, o/u: 146.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 5

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UCLA vs Arizona Prediction, Game Preview

UCLA vs Arizona prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 9

UCLA vs Arizona prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 9


UCLA vs Arizona How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 9
Game Time: 10:30 ET
Venue: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: UCLA (3-2), Arizona (0-4)
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UCLA vs Arizona Game Preview


Why UCLA Will Win

Arizona doesn’t have enough of an offense to keep up.

It played well for a while in the misleading 41-19 loss to Oregon – coming up with over 200 yards rushing and 200 passing – but late turnovers made it ugly.

Overall, though, the running game hasn’t been able to get going, third down conversions are rare, and there’s not enough help from the other side to make a difference.

Basically, Arizona’s lines aren’t good enough yet.

There isn’t nearly enough of a pass rush to get to Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the Bruins downfield passing game that should be able to come up with yards in chunks.

In a perfect world, though, the Bruins take advantage up front and start pounding away from the first drive.

However …

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Why Arizona Will Win

UCLA is 3-0 on the year when it runs for over 200 yards, and it’s 0-2 when it doesn’t. Arizona allowed 254 yards on the ground to San Diego State,  and no one else – not BYU, not Oregon – has been able to get past the 200-yard mark.

The top guys aren’t in place quite yet for new Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch, but he made a major statement from the start that his program would play defense, and it’s happening.

The overall numbers aren’t amazing, but considering Arizona went on an impressive run of allowing over 400 yards in 18 of 19 games before the 2021 season – and 22 of 25 going back through 2018 – only allowing one 400-yard day in the first four games is a big step forward.

And now the Wildcat defense has had two weeks off to rest up.

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What’s Going To Happen

UCLA will pick it back up again after failing to keep up in the second half against Arizona State.

It’s just the second away game so far – beating Stanford in the first one – with a balanced attack ready to be enough to overcome a strong first quarter start by Arizona.

The Cats won’t be able to keep up.

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UCLA vs Arizona Prediction, Line

UCLA 37, Arizona 20
Line: UCLA -16, o/u: 61
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5

Must See Rating: 2

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