Arizona vs. UCLA Prediction and Odds (How to Bet PAC-12 Matchup)

No. 3 Arizona heads to Pauley Pavilion to face No. 7 UCLA in what should be the marquee matchup of Tuesday's college basketball slate.

The Wildcats have a lone blemish on their record this season, a tight road loss to Tennessee, while the Bruins have been somewhat quiet this season after their Final Four run. The team had a near month long COVID-19 pause, but has returned to go 5-1, including two road wins last week.

With fans back in the stands at Pauley, can UCLA announce themselves as contenders again? Or will Arizona continue to solidify their No. 1 seed résumé come Selection Sunday?

Here are the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook.

Arizona vs. UCLA Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

• Arizona: -3.5 (-105)
• UCLA: +3.5 (-115)

Moneyline:

• Arizona: -165
• UCLA: +140

Total: 150 (Over -110/Under -110)

Arizona vs. UCLA Prediction and Pick

This is high end basketball in January between two of the best teams in the country. However, I see Arizona a cut above UCLA.

While the Bruins are coming off a Final Four season, they were overrated coming into the year, typically lined as the second choice behind Gonzaga to cut down the nets in 2021-2022. However, they are closer to the top 15 than the top 5, and that has been proven thus far.

This season, when facing elite competition, the Bruins escaped at home against Villanova and were destroyed by Gonzaga, unable to keep up with their size and pace. Unfortunately for Mick Cronin's crew, the Wildcats profile similarly to the Bulldogs.

Arizona plays at the second fastest tempo in the nation, per KenPom, and has the best interior defense in the country, holding foes to 38.9% on two-point shots. This team has a ton of size inside with Azuolas Tubelis and Christian Koloko to challenge pull up shooters like Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez for the Bruins.

On offense, Arizona must be careful with the ball, their turnover rate is slipping in conference play, but I believe their ability to clean the glass against a smaller UCLA frontcourt will pay dividends. The Wildcats are top 50 nationally in offensive rebounding rate, while the Bruins are slipping on the defensive glass, middle of the pack in PAC-12 play. Not to mention, they have the best finishing rate around the rim, per Haslemmetric.

The Wildcats are a National Championship contender and I believe that early season trip to Knoxville, a raucous crowd that resulted in a tight loss, will benefit this team in another rowdy environment.

I haven't decided how I'm betting Zona in this one, possibly on the ML, but I do make them 6 point favorites in this one so I still feel comfortable betting it. For more check out my betstamp below.

LEAN: Arizona -3.5

All of Reed's college basketball plays can be tracked here, his best bets column for college basketball is 24-29-3 for -6.02 units.