The Arizona Wildcats have gotten off to a fantastic start in Pac-12 play, and there seems to be little doubt they will stay undefeated in the conference after their next outcome. The No. 17 ranked Wildcats will host the Arizona State Sun Devils, their intrastate rival but one which is in rebuilding mode.
Arizona is the more talented team and gets this game at home, so it will be the clear favorite. Arizona State will need to play well in order to stay in this one as the Wildcats will be amped up to blow out their rival and the crowd will be loud. Arizona needs to keep piling up wins as Oregon is also undefeated in conference play while UCLA and USC are lurking in a top-heavy Pac-12.
At 9 p.m. ET, tune into ESPN2 for live television coverage of this NCAA basketball game on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Thursday schedule.
Odds at BookMaker.eu
Arizona is 15-2 straight up and 9-7-1 against the spread. The Wildcats are 4-4-1 against the spread at home this season and will definitely be giving plenty of points as the heavy favorite. Arizona is 6-5-1 against the spread as the favorite this year.
Arizona State is 9-8 straight up and 6-9-1 against the spread. The Sun Devils have played three true road games and have done a nice job there, covering twice. Arizona State is only 3-6 against the spread as the underdog this year and will fill that role once again.
Eligibility Update
When Allonzo Trier warmed up before Arizona’s last game, there was hope he would be reinstated from suspension and begin playing this season. Instead, he sat out, and still hasn’t seen the court. Coach Sean Miller recently said he was optimistic Trier would return sometime this season, but at this point it’s a wait and see game.
Trier averaged 14.8 points per game last season but Arizona is a powerhouse and has made up the slack of missing a key piece. Lauri Markkanen has filled in as the go-to guy, as he is averaging 15.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
Rawle Alkins contributes 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while Dusan Ristic adds 11.9 points per game and Kobi Simmons is also in double figures at 11.7 points per game.
Key Stat
82.4. That’s the number of points per game Arizona State is allowing this season, which is why the team is hovering around .500 on the year. There are a lot of newcomers to the program as coach Bobby Hurley aims to build it up, and the team doesn’t have enough cohesion to play lockdown defense.
Arizona State needs to do better in that area, but will be hard-pressed to do so in a loud arena and against superior athletes. The Sun Devils’ only chance may be to shoot really well from the field as they are averaging 82 points per game.
Torian Graham is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 18.1 points and adding 4.3 rebounds per game. Tra Holder is contributing 16.7 points per game, while Obinna Oleka has been a key piece, averaging 13.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
The Sun Devils have done an admirable job in conference, winning two of their first four, and the team has played better of late. However, it’s not in the same stratosphere as this Arizona group, which is a shoo-in for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and is aiming to make a deep run there.
Even if Trier remains suspended in this one, Arizona should have no trouble taking care of business in a blowout.
College Basketball Odds: Arizona 91, Arizona State 74
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