-Odds4.jpg)
There is plenty on the line when Arizona hosts Stanford in the final regular season game for both sides. The Wildcats can wrap up a first-round bye in the Pac-12 tournament while the Cardinal could be playing to keep the job of their head coach. And it doesn’t look good for Johnny Dawkins.
You can bet on college basketball odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
HOW THE STANFORD CARDINAL CAN COVER THE SPREAD
The Cardinal got caught looking ahead to their showdown with Arizona and suffered a huge loss at Arizona State on Thursday night. Not that it hurt their tournament hopes, because they didn’t have any. But Stanford had a chance to finish above .500 in the Pac-12 and must now defeat the No. 18 Wildcats on the road just to break even.
The ability of guard Dorian Perkins to dent Arizona’s stifling defense will be a key for Stanford. He netted a season-high 25 points in a win over USC on Feb. 25 and is averaging 20.0 in his last three games.
While scoring shouldn’t be a problem for Pickens and Rosco Allen, putting them in a position to score could be troublesome. Stanford lacked a point guard all season and the one guy who played the part, Christian Sanders, was just suspended.
The Cardinal desperately needs someone to distribute the basketball and get it in the hands of the guys who can put it in the hoop. Stanford also had 15 turnovers at Arizona State, so having someone protect the ball is a top priority as well.
HOW THE ARIZONA WILDCATS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
With Stanford looking ahead to this game, the Wildcats could be looking back. While Arizona has a glossy record and national ranking, it still lacked a high-quality win. Defeating Cal gives the Wildcats that victory and bolsters their resume for the NCAA’s.
Arizona still has something to play for, though. A win Saturday guarantees the Wildcats a first-round bye in next week’s Pac-12 tournament, meaning they wouldn’t have to play a game on Wednesday.
The Wildcats avoided their first three-game losing streak since coach Sean Miller’s first season by defeating the Bears and a sweep of the Bay Area schools could fire up their confidence, much like their sweep in Washington did earlier this month, keying what became a six-game winning streak.
Stanford’s lack of a true point guard sets up well for the Wildcats, who like to pressure opponents into mistakes and poor shot selection. That will be much easier to do against a team without an experienced ball-handler.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Arizona isn’t the class of the Pac-12 this season. But they’re pretty dam close. The top of the conference is much stronger than what it’s been in the past and Stanford isn’t even among those teams. It’s been a struggle all year for the Cardinal with a lack of depth then injuries and suspensions depleting the group. A loss Saturday secures a losing record in league play, and with a first-round tournament defeat, the Cardinal will be staring at a .500 overall record. Not what most on the Farm expected. Following a loss at Arizona State on Thursday, Stanford could be playing for coach Johnny Dawkins’ job. And that means winning at McKale Center, something visiting teams have done just once in the last 55 games there.
Arizona 78, Stanford 64
BookMaker 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 Sportsbook! The matchup between the Stanford Cardinal and Arizona Wildcats will go down Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 4 p.m. ET at the McKale Center. The matchup will be televised live on CBS.
