Arizona has long been the dominant basketball team in the state and that isn’t any different here, as it should be a hefty favorite despite playing on the road. This is a litmus test for the Sun Devils, who have won four of their past seven in the Pac-12 and gave Oregon a scare on the road a few weeks ago.
It is silly to pick against the Wildcats in this one but Arizona State has improved enough recently to consider it a plucky underdog choice against the spread.
At 4 p.m. ET, tune into CBS for live television coverage of this NCAA basketball game on Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Arizona.
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Odds at BookMaker.eu
Arizona State is 14-16 straight up and 15-13-1 against the spread. The Sun Devils have played in 15 home games this season and have gone 8-6-1 attempting to cover. Arizona State is 9-8 against the spread as the underdog and will be getting points in this one.
Arizona is 26-4 straight up and 14-15-1 against the spread. The Wildcats have played in nine road games this year and have performed well, covering in seven of those games. Arizona is 10-12-1 against the spread as the favorite this year.
Last Meeting
Arizona cruised the first time these teams met back in January, taking a 20-point lead into halftime and picking up a 91-75 victory. Freshman phenom Lauri Markkanen had a big outing, accumulating 30 points and adding eight rebounds.
Three other Arizona players scored in double figures as Arizona State’s defense struggled and it didn’t have the firepower to keep up. The Wildcats were without star guard Allonzo Trier in that matchup because of suspension, and his presence further tilts the odds in favor of Arizona in this rematch.
Arizona State got 22 points from Obinna Oleka, 20 from Tra Holder and 18 from Torian Graham in the first meeting. The Sun Devils average 78 points per game but the problem is they give up 81. Their defense must be better in this one to have a shot to keep the game close or even pull the upset.
Key Stat
300. That’s the number of three-pointers Arizona State has hit this season, which is already a school-record. The previous mark was 289 set in 2009.
If the Sun Devils can shoot well from downtown it could make things interesting. Graham leads the way with 95 made three-pointers this season, while Shannon Evans has hit 68 and Kodi Justice has added 57.
The three-pointer is a weapon not utilized enough by college teams considering how close the line is compared to the NBA. Arizona State is less talented than Arizona but a big advantage from downtown could help even the playing field.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Arizona State has been hard to peg this season, standing tough against some good teams at times and getting blown out other times. The Wildcats look like one of the best teams in the country and there is little reason to believe they will lose this game. They are setting up for a deep March Madness run.
Arizona has the better frontcourt play and the superior depth, which should help wear down the Sun Devils. However, Arizona State does get to play this one at home, and the group is playing well.
Arizona almost certainly will win this game, but watch the spread closely. The Sun Devils could make this one interesting, which would result in a cover if they are given plenty of points by the oddsmakers.
College Basketball Odds: Arizona 86, Arizona State 80
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