Arizona vs Arizona State Picks and Odds
- The Arizona Wildcats (10-3, 4-3 Pac-12) play the Arizona State Sun Devils (4-6, 1-3 Pac-12) on Thursday, January 21
- Arizona’s last game was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns while Arizona State lost a heartbreaker to Oregon State
- See the odds, spread, analysis, and best bet, below
The Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State Sun Devils will play the first of game of a home and away series on Thursday night (9pm ET).
Both teams played Oregon State in their last game with varying results. The Wildcats went to Corvallis, Oregon and demolished the Beavers 98-64 as 8-point favorites. The Sun Devils didn’t have such a great time in Corvallis as they lost 80-79 after being favored by 5.5 points.
The Wildcats have won seven of the last 10 meetings but it was the Sun Devils taking the last one 66-65 last January 25th. The current odds show Arizona favored by 2.5 points in this matchup.
Arizona vs Arizona State Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Wildcats | -2.5 (-110) | -146 | Over 155.5 (-106) |
| Arizona State Sun Devils | +2.5 (-110) | +124 | Under 155.5 (-114) |
Odds as of January 20th at FanDuel.
Arizona Can Score The Rock
Only 28 teams in the nation average at least 80 points per game and the Wildcats are one of them. According to KenPom they are the 16th most efficient offense in the country, scoring 113.8 points per 100 possessions (adjusted for opponent). That offense was on display for all to see in their beatdown of Oregon State. Bennedict Mathurin led the way with a dominating 31-point performance.
Bennedict Mathurin put on a show tonight for @APlayersProgram 🔥
Watch every bucket from his 31-point performance ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/l8OmaviZmj
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) January 15, 2021
The Wildcats jumped out to a 47-21 lead at halftime and never took their foot off the gas. They came out in the second half and dropped another 51 points. Arizona shot 57% from the field en route to the season-high 98 points. Even the reserves had it going as Jordan Brown chipped in a career-high 25 points off the bench in the winning effort.
Arizona State Needs A Win
The Sun Devils’ past month has been marred by losses and postponements. They have either lost or had a game rescheduled nine times since December 16th. They are currently sporting a four-game losing streak, although they played well enough to win last Saturday against Oregon State.
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) January 17, 2021
Giving up offensive rebounds has been an issue all season for the Sun Devils and that was the case again against Oregon State. Arizona State ranks 304 out of 357 teams in the country in opponent offensive rebounding percentage, allowing a 30.1% rate. The Beavers were able to pull down 12 offensive boards in this game which ultimately decided the winner.
Best Betting Angle
Arizona is clearly the better program so far this season and the spread reflects as much. They should have no issue scoring on the Arizona State defense which ranks 242nd in the country in defensive efficiency (not adjusted for opponent).
Second chance points should play a role in this one as it has all year for Arizona State. The Sun Devils are extremely weak on the offensive glass, while Arizona is very good in that area. On the season, only 15 teams in the country average more second chance scoring opportunities than the Wildcats. They average 11.5 offensive rebounds per game, which is bad news for a Sun Devil team that gives up more than nine per contest. Arizona should have no problem with Arizona State on Thursday night.
Pick: Arizona -2.5 (-110)
John has spent the past 20+ years betting sports on a daily basis and is considered by many to be a walking sports betting encyclopedia. From obscure player props to sides and totals, if there is an angle, John will find it.
