The USC Trojans (6-2 overall, 1-1 Pac-12) visit the Arizona Wildcats (9-1, 3-1) in a Thursday night conference clash at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. Tip-off is at 9 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the USC-Arizona college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
USC at Arizona: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:50 p.m. ET.
- Money line: USC +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Arizona -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: USC +4.5 (-110) | Arizona -4.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 137.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
USC at Arizona: Three things to know
- Southern California is 2-1 since enduring a 20-day, COVID-19-induced hiatus in December. USC is coming off a 64-46 win over Utah Saturday, a victory that saw the Trojans convert on 53.2% of their field-goal attempts. USC leads the Pac-12 in shooting accuracy, at 48.2%. The Trojans rank second in the circuit in 3-point accuracy (36.7%); they are inexplicably shooting just 60.5% (12th) from the free-throw line.
- A youthful Trojans rotation (five upperclassmen among top-10 in minutes) is led by seven-footer PF Evan Mobley. The freshman is averaging 15.0 PPG on the strength of a 58.7% mark from the field. Mobley is averaging 8.0 rebounds per contest. He’s the younger brother of sophomore Isaiah Mobley, who is averaging 8.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for USC.
- Arizona counters with an impressive freshman of its own in G Bennedict Mathurin, who is averaging 10.6 PPG and 4.9 RPG. The 6-foot-7 newcomer led the Wildcats in scoring in a weekend sweep of Washington and Washington State. He was selected as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, averaging 18.5 PPG and 8.5 RPG over those two contests.
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USC at Arizona: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Arizona 71, USC 69
Money line (ML)
USC is a talented and tall team and it can get it done at both ends of the floor. The Trojans are playing their first true road game after two neutral-site games in early December. They lost by just five last year at Arizona (85-80, Feb. 6), and that was a less talented USC five in a rough stretch of its season.
In a vacuum, the lean is on Arizona in a close game but TAKE USC +170 as decent value with this ML tag.
Against the spread (ATS)
Southern Cal is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games, 4-1 ATS in its last five games vs. Arizona and 6-1 ATS in its last seven road games.
USC’s ability to defend near the bucket (and defend any shot period) is the difference-maker here. TAKE USC +4.5 (-110) … and consider the line as likely moving toward the Trojans side during the day.
Over/Under (O/U)
NO WIGGLE ROOM HERE — PASS. Expect a mid-tempo game with the winner of a close battle scoring 70 or 71 points.
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