UCLA vs. Arizona Prediction: Can the Bruins Push for Top Seed in March Madness?

UCLA vs. Arizona Prediction: Can the Bruins Push for Top Seed in March Madness?

The reason we love college basketball so much is its unpredictability. Some call it Madness; others call it awesome. UCLA made one of the most memorable runs in NCAA tournament history a few years back when they shocked the world and advanced to the final four out of nowhere. Since then, UCLA has been extremely consistent and undervalued in the betting market. With only a few guys from that final four roster, will UCLA make another run deep in the tourney?

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UCLA vs. Arizona Prediction

Arizona played one of their best games of the season on Thursday, where they defeated USC in Los Angeles. The Wildcats stayed local this weekend and will challenge the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion tonight. UCLA has yet to lose a game on their home floor this season.  Will Azuolas Tubelis and Arizona hand UCLA their first home loss all year?

Tommy Lloyd has done an incredible job against the Bruins in his tenure at Arizona. He’s won three of four against UCLA since becoming the Wildcat’s head coach. Arizona beat the Bruins already in January, holding them to 52 points on their home court. Now we’re seeing UCLA laying five points against a team they’ve already lost to, coming off debatably their best road win of the season, playing against a program that historically owns them.

We are finally seeing the Bruins get some respect from oddsmakers in this contest. The sportsbooks and the NCAA tourney seeding committee have disrespected UCLA. They slotted UCLA as the eighth overall seed a few weeks back, and Mick Cronin took that personally. The Bruins have been playing pissed off ever since.

Coach Cronin has found a way to use the projected seeding as motivation for his guys. I wouldn’t want to play this team right now. Arizona will be heading into tonight’s matchup feeling confident as ever after already beating UCLA once this year. Tubelis is coming off a legacy performance against USC as well. Maybe the Wildcats enter tonight a little too confident, and the scrappy Bruins will take advantage and enact some revenge on a conference rival.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. is one of the best college basketball players in the country. He may not be the biggest or most athletic player, but he finds ways to get to the rack and put up points. His fadeaway mid-range has kept UCLA in many games this year. He will be hungry to take down Arizona at home in his last chance to beat them before he graduates.

I'm sure Tyger Campbell wouldn’t mind getting a win tonight in his last attempt, even up the series record. These seniors had this game circled on their calendars for months. Back the hungrier, grittier team to enact revenge in their toughest home test of the season. The Bruins will remain perfect at home in 2023.

UCLA vs. Arizona Pick

UCLA -5 (-110) Bet $100 to collect $190 Get the best odds at DraftKings; click here to bet

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

• Date: Saturday, March 4, 2023
• Start Time: 10:00 pm ET
• Where to Watch: ESPN

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