UCLA vs. Arizona Best Bet: Can UCLA Upset Arizona at Home?

UCLA vs. Arizona Best Bet: Can UCLA Upset Arizona at Home?

The Pac-12 usually doesn't get much love in college sports. But after last year's NCAA Tournament run from UCLA and other Pac-12 members, the conference is back in the mix as one of the top conferences in college basketball. Tonight's matchup between Arizona and UCLA will feature two of the top 10 teams in the country.

The Arizona Wildcats have just one loss on the year to Tennessee and are currently 6-0 in league play. Meanwhile, UCLA has a loss to Gonzaga and Oregon and is 5-1 in league play. This game could be the first of many this season. Here are our picks and predictions for the Pac-12 matchup between the Arizona Wildcats and the UCLA Bruins.

UCLA vs. Arizona Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

Date: Tuesday, January 25

Game Time: 11:00 pm ET

Where to Watch: ESPN

Click Here for UCLA vs. Arizona Odds

UCLA vs. Arizona Injury Report

Arizona

Questionable: F Azuolas Tubelis F (Ankle) Out: F Kim Aiken Jr. (Personal)

UCLA

Out: F Mac Etienne (Knee)

UCLA Bruins vs. Arizona Wildcats Line Movement

UCLA vs. Arizona Prediction

Tonight's slate features so many great games. If you're on the East coast, like me, it might be a late night. The Arizona Wildcats and UCLA Bruins will play a huge conference game that true college basketball fans just won't want to miss. Arizona is currently in the top 10 in both offense and defensive efficiency. If the Wildcats continue to put up these kinds of numbers, they'll be the clear favorite to win the NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats are shooting an effective field goal percentage of 56.6 percent while grabbing 35.9 percent of offensive rebounds. Most teams have struggled to get stops inside the pain, with Arizona shooting 59.2 percent from inside the arc this season. The Wildcats are also hitting 34.8 percent from long range and should be able to get some quality looks knowing that Arizona is one of the best teams in the nation at earning assists and at moving the ball around.

Defensively, Arizona has held opponents to a 41.8 percent effective field goal percentage, holding teams to 38.9 percent inside the arc. That's the best rate in the nation defensively and UCLA has hit just 50.1 percent from inside this season.

The Bruins are average from inside the arc but now have to figure out a way to score a whole lot of points inside the paint against the best two-point defense in the nation. That's going to be hard. UCLA has been able to limit turnovers to 14.1 percent and should be able to win the rebounding battle, knowing that Arizona only limits teams to 28.2 percent offensive rebounds on the season. But without those offensive rebounds, it's going to be hard for UCLA to win this game.

Arizona's defense has been locking down each and every opponent this season and I'm just not sure UCLA's offense can keep it rolling tonight, even at home. UCLA rarely shoots threes and so they will look to shoot inside more often than not. That's not going to work against Arizona's defense.

UCLA Bruins vs. Arizona Wildcats Pick

• Arizona -3.5 (-110) (Bet $110 to Win $100)