Arizona vs Stanford CBB Picks
The Arizona Wildcats have been unstoppable this season in the most literal sense. Their run at No.1 has been consistent for two months strong, and they’ve yet to lose a game through their first 20 contests. [ad-4468020]
No. 1 Arizona (20-0, 7-0 Pac-12) at Stanford (13-6, 4-3 Pac-12)
Wednesday, Jan. 29 9:00 p.m. ET Maples Pavilion
Spread: Arizona -6
Over/Under: 134.5
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Their next hurdle comes in the form of the Stanford Cardinal. Although Stanford isn’t the most imposing team the Wildcats have seen this season, it is playing well, having won four of its previous five entering this battle. The Cardinal will be another test for the Wildcats, but if all goes according to plan, Arizona will be the ones coming out on top.
Arizona
The odds of Arizona going undefeated certainly are not in its favor, but the odds of winning this contest absolutely are. In recent history, the Wildcats have handled the Cardinal with relative ease. The last eight times these two programs have met, it’s been Arizona coming out on top. Home-court advantage has been non-existent for Stanford during that stretch, and the Wildcats hope that the same theme rings true Wednesday night.
What makes Arizona so dangerous is its versatility. Despite scoring just 75 points per game—the 101st-best mark in the nation—the team has a plethora of different playmakers. Athleticism isn’t lacking on this roster, and that includes players both on the perimeter and down in the paint.
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On the year, the Wildcats are shooting the ball to the tune of 48.6 percent from the field. That’s good enough for 18th in the country. Defense, however, is where this team is thriving. It is allowing just 56.7 points per game, which doesn’t bode well for its opponents—Stanford included.
Stanford
As long as Arizona is the No. 1 team in the country, it will see everybody’s best performance moving forward. That’s going to be the case come Wednesday, as the Cardinal are pumped up to host the undefeated Wildcats.
“Oh, man, we’re all excited,” Chasson Randle said, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). “It’s a big game and we’re looking forward to it.”
Although the Cardinal’s defense hasn’t been nearly as imposing as their Pac-12 rival’s, their offense has been more efficient. Randle is scoring 19.1 points per game, while Stanford as a whole is shooting 48.1 percent from the field; a number that is good enough for 28th in the nation.
In college hoops, you can’t discredit momentum. Stanford not only has home-court advantage in this one, but it has won four of its last five games, starting with then-No. 17 Oregon. The problem is that the Wildcats have a whole lot more momentum on their side.
Expect this one to be entertaining throughout, but don’t be shocked when the No. 1 team in the country walks away victorious.
Prediction: Arizona 77 – Stanford 67
