Arizona vs UCLA Prediction: Should We Trust Azuolas Tubelis, Wildcats in Pac-12 Finals?
Arizona vs UCLA Prediction: Should We Trust Azuolas Tubelis, Wildcats in Pac-12 Finals?
There aren’t many frontcourts in college basketball better than Arizona’s combo of Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo. Tubelis is the closest thing we’ve seen to Nikola Jokic, and Bello is a dominant paint beast. On paper, these two should match up fairly well against UCLA’s guard-heavy roster. The only forward who averages more than 12 minutes a game on the Bruins roster is Adem Bona. Bona is no Nikola Jokic or Azuolas Tubelis.
Arizona vs UCLA Start Time, Where to Watch, Odds
- Date: March 11, 2023
- Start Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN
Click here for Arizona vs. UCLA odds
Arizona vs UCLA Prediction
UCLA can thank Mick Cronin for a coaching masterclass this season. He knows how to get the most out of his guys. It helps when you add a five-star freshman in Amari Bailey, but this team is mainly composed of gritty veterans. If you’ve watched the Bruins play this season, you’ve probably seen Coach Cronin jumping around on the sidelines, begging Tyger Campbell to slow the pace. That’s how UCLA gets in their groove; they limit possessions and milk the shot clock. They know what works and they stick to it. A tired veteran squad could prove to be vulnerable against the fast-paced Wildcats. Arizona likes to run; they are 11th in pace out of 358 teams. That’s how Arizona found success in the first matchup; they pushed the tempo and made UCLA run. Expect the same game plan tonight if they want any chance of ending the Bruins' 12-game winning streak.
This game might get so ugly that we see Azuolas’ brother, Tautvilas, check into this game. He’s only played in five games all year, averaging one minute per contest. My point is I don’t see anyone getting in the way of the Wildcats. They are fresh off of beating Arizona State by 20 and a 95-point offensive performance against a red-hot Stanford team.
The public is peppering UCLA with bets. Fading the public isn’t a foolproof betting strategy, but it’s definitely important to monitor line movement as money comes in, especially in March. The books are getting plenty of college basketball action at this time of the year, and UCLA seems to be the public side tonight. Over 80% of the bets on DraftKings are on the Bruins to win tonight, yet the line has moved back towards a pick ‘em, a great sign for Arizona backers. Grab the Wildcats before they close as the betting favorite.
Arizona vs UCLA Pick
- Arizona +1.5 (-115) Bet $100 to collect $186. DraftKings has the best odds, click here
Article Author
Krabs is a contrarian bettor who isn’t afraid to fade the public or go against the grain. His betting style not only produces winners but has changed the way many think about the sports betting process. You’ll find Krabs betting on anything from the NFL (at a 60% clip in 2022) to the KBO (8-1-1 in 2022). You won’t find many handicappers with more college basketball knowledge or insight than Krabs. A native of the “DMV,” you can find his work @Krabs_Bets on Twitter, or on Behind the Lines, his daily sports betting show on twitch.