Is it a down year in the Pac-12 or is parity taking over? There are arguments for both sides, but there’s no arguing that the Arizona Wildcats have the best collection of talent in the conference and that’s why they are perched atop the league standings. It’s been a weird season for Bobby Hurley and his Arizona State Sun Devils, who used a perfect non-conference slate to climb into the national rankings and have been there ever since, despite losing six conference games.
Don't miss the hardwood action from the Wells Fargo Arena at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 15, 2018. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN. We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Thursday schedule.
Opening College Basketball Odds at BookMaker.eu
Arizona tightened its grip on first place in the Pac-12 by knocking off USC Saturday and it was a big win given what was at stake. The Cats had just suffered a loss to UCLA and their lead was trimmed to a game over both the SoCal schools. But with some help from ASU, the Cats expanded their lead in the conference. While the Cats have increased their lead in the standings, they remain a question mark at the betting window. They are just 4-8-1 ATS in league games.
It’s been four years since the Sun Devils hit the 20-win mark, and reaching that plateau by knocking off their rival would be extra sweet. ASU won its first 12 games and vaulted as high as No. 3 in the rankings. Then Pac-12 play started. The Devils opened with a pair of losses and hadn’t won two in a row until putting together a three-game winning streak with a sweep of UCLA and USC last week.
Player to Watch
Deandre Ayton is probably the most gifted player on a roster full of them. He’s done it all this season and at no time has the stage been too big. Ayton is Arizona’s and the Pac-12’s second-leading scorer with 19.6 points per game and he leads the conference with 10.7 rebounds per contest.
Ayton also shoots better than 60 percent from the field, but the Wildcats are a stronger team when he’s active on defense, and according to Sean Miller, he was at his best against USC. Ayton didn’t get any stats on that side of the ball, but he altered shots with his frame in the middle.
Taking advantage of the smaller Sun Devils front when the teams met in December, Ayton went for 23 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, dominating the paint in his first game in the heated rivalry. Don’t expect the young man to be fazed on Thursday.
Last Meeting
The series has been one-sided in favor of the Wildcats for the past decade, but ASU’s unexpected rise to No. 3 in the national rankings set the stage for the most anticipated matchup between the two in some time. Opening the Pac-12 season in Tucson, the Cats ended the Sun Devils perfect start, handing them an 84-78 loss at the end of December.
ASU got 31 points from Tra Holder, but they had little else offensively with Shannon Evans and Cody Justice going a combined 5 of 23 from the field. And when the backcourt couldn’t produce, the Sun Devils had few other options.
Ayton and Dusan Ristic controlled the game inside against ASU’s undersized front. Ayton made 9 of 14 shots for 23 points and snared 19 boards in one of many dominant performances.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Arizona is a strong club and the Wildcats got a little stronger with the return of Rawle Alkins. Back in the lineup after missing time with a foot injury, Alkins was just another weapon for the Wildcats in their win over USC, scoring 20 points with five assists.
These are two of the most potent offensive teams in the Pac-12 and don’t expect the Sun Devils to have their shooting woes like they did in Tucson in the first meeting. ASU has an explosive backcourt with Holder, Evans and Justice, but they are undersized up front and that’s not a good thing to be against Arizona.
Alkins and Allonzo Trier will negate the effectiveness of ASU’s backcourt, leaving the game in the hands of Ayton and Ristic again. And as they’ve done all season, they will deliver.
College Basketball Odds: Arizona 88, Arizona State 85
BookMaker.eu offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu!
