Pac 12 Tourney – Bruins vs Wildcats NCAAB Handicapping Prediction
Both Arizona (21-10) and UCLA (19-13) are in need of a win in this quarterfinals match up in the Pac 12 tourney, especially UCLA, as they are really on the Big Dance bubble.
Venue/ Stadium: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
Time/Date: 5:30 PM EST Thursday, March 8, 2012
NCAA Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): UCLA -3
Over/Under: 129.5
UCLA Bruins vs. Arizona Wildcats Preview
The Wildcats do have 21 wins on the season, but they finished 3rd in a pretty weak Pac 12 this season and they do not have any wins over ranked teams. On top of that they lost their last game of the regular season while UCLA is surging winners of 3 straight.
In their last games UCLA beat USC in the first round of the conference tourney 55-40 and Arizona lost to Arizona State 87-70.
This season UCLA was 17-14-1 ATS with an O/U record of 17-14-1 and Arizona was 16-14 ATS with an O/U record of 15-15.
This season these 2 teams split their series each winning on their home floor and Arizona came out on top 65-63 at home against the Bruins in their 2nd to last game of the season.
Zona has a legit outside/inside combo with the duo of G Kyle Fogg (13.5 ppg) and F Solomon Hill (12.5 ppg 7.8 rpg). Fogg may be the guy the Bruins have to key on, as in his last 3 games he has averaged almost 20 ppg. Arizona is a higher scoring team than UCLA, but the Bruins ranked 3rd in the conference on defense and has played well on that side of the floor in their current 3-game winning streak. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Senior UCLA G Lazeric Jones (13.4 ppg) has stepped up as of late and has been playing well and will need to do so in this game. Jones stunk up the court in the Bruins last loss, which was to Arizona, where only scored 2 points on 1/12 shooting.
The Bruins have a solid 6’10” F duo in David Wear 10.4 ppg 6.2 rpg) and Travis Wear (11.6 ppg 5.9 rpg) and these 2 need to use their size to get some easy scoring inside as well as play well on the boards.
Both teams did not shoot the rock well in their last match up and each team ha 14 turnovers. UCLA ranked 8th in the Pac 12 in turnovers per game and they have to hold onto the rock against Zona.
In some betting trends for this Pac 12 tourney match up UCLA is 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record, and they have an Under record of 4-1-1 in their last 6 games.
Arizona is 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record, 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games following a S.U. loss, and they have an Over record of 5-1 in their last 6 games.
Jason’s Pick: UCLA is playing well, but I think Arizona is a better team and they really need a win and they will get it in this game and they will also cover the spread.
