The No. 4 UCLA Bruins (16-2, 8-1 Pac-12) travel to McKale Center for a meeting with the No. 5 Arizona Wildcats (17-2, 7-1). Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the UCLA vs. Arizona odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Bruins will have G Johnny Juzang active after he cleared health and safety protocols. Juzang leads the team in scoring with an average of 18.1 points per game.
However, F Jaime Jaquez Jr. is questionable with an ankle sprain and G Jaylen Clark is expected to be out with a concussion. Clark is the team’s top threat off the bench.
The Wildcats are coming off a 67-56 home victory over Arizona State, a game in which they pulled away late after being knotted up at 32 at the half.
Arizona is 1-2 against ranked opponents with losses to then-No. 19 Tennessee Dec. 22 and then-No. 8 UCLA Jan. 25 while defeating now-No. 18 Illinois when they were unranked Dec. 11. UCLA beat Arizona by 16 at home the first time these two teams met.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
UCLA at Arizona odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at noon ET.
- Money line: UCLA +230 (bet $100 to win $230) | Arizona -300 (bet $300 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): UCLA +6.5 (-110) | Arizona -6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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UCLA at Arizona odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
UCLA 74, Arizona 72
Money line
SPRINKLE on UCLA (+230). The Bruins easily took down the Wildcats the first time around as they held Arizona’s leading-scorer G Bennedict Mathurin to 5-for-22 from the field.
The Wildcats have the nation’s third-highest scoring offense at 86 points per game but managed just 59 against an experienced Bruins. I think the Bruins come out on top and improve on their 5-0 road record.
Against the spread
BET on UCLA +6.5 (-110).
This is the best play in the game as all a bettor is banking on is a close game. UCLA took a tough loss to Gonzaga Nov. 23 but their only other loss on the season was a 3-point overtime defeat to Oregon Jan. 13.
The Bruins have covered four straight games while the Wildcats have failed to cover two straight. The Bruins should come out and limit Arizona yet against considering they hold opponents to just 63.9 points per game.
Over/Under
PASS on the total with a slight lean to the Under 148.5 (-112).
Arizona is 3-5 O/U and UCLA is 3/6 in conference games. I expect a hard-fought, close game which should produce fewer points, much like the last time these two teams met.
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