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USC vs. Arizona prediction and odds for Thursday, January 19

By Josh Yourish

Southern California Trojans guard Boogie Ellis. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Southern California Trojans guard Boogie Ellis. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The No. 11 Arizona Wildcats hit another Pac 12 speed bump on Saturday when they fell to Oregon, 87-68. They’re now 15-3 with all three losses coming in their seven conference games so far this year.

USC on the other hand has hit its stride in conference play at 13-5 overall and 5-2 in conference, they’re third behind UCLA and Arizona State.

Arizona is still one of the top teams not only in the Pac 12, but in the country, but it needs to get on a roll and maybe heading back home after a tough loss is the perfect time to do it. Here are the odds for USC and Arizona tonight:

USC vs. Arizona odds, spread and total

USC vs. Arizona prediction and pick

This is an interesting spot for the Wildcats. Part of me thinks it’s the perfect bounce back after losing to Oregon in the forest, but on the other hand, No. 5 UCLA is in town on Saturday so there’s a chance that No. 11 is peaking ahead a little bit.

This is the biggest weekend of their season so far and might be the rest of the way as well. Arizona struggled to score inside against Oregon’s size, and it shot just 38% from inside the arc.

Azuolas Tubelis had just 14 and Oumar Ballo finished with 10. They couldn’t make enough happen from deep or get enough from Courtney Ramey or Kerr Kriisa in the backcourt, and that’s very bad news against USC.

The Trojans are No. 1 in opponent two-point field goal percentage. They’re holding teams to just 41.1% from inside the arc.

It’s this defense that has led them to go 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games overall. Arizona on the other side is a poor defensive team, for their caliber, they’re barely in the top 100 of defensive efficiency.

I expect Boogie Ellis and Drew Peterson to do just enough on the offensive end to hang around and unless Arizona goes nuclear from deep and a team that shoots 34.9% from 3 hits nearly 50% from outside, USC will make this one very close and maybe win it.

Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change