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UCLA Bruins vs. Arizona Wildcats Free Gambling Prediction & CBB Preview

Bruins vs Wildcats CBB Basketball Spread/Handicapping

It looked like the sky was falling early this season in Westwood. The team was losing, players were transferring out, eligibility issues – but things have calmed.

UCLA Bruins (15-4) vs Arizona Wildcats (16-1)
Thursday January 24
McKale Center – Tucson, AZ
9:00PM
Moneyline:  No ML currently listed at Bovada
Spread:  Arizona -8.5
O/U:  147

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UCLA

It is amazing what some winning can do for a team.  They had won 4 straight before being stopped by Oregon their last time out.

The talent is there and the consistency has improved but they are still fighting it sometimes.

The Bruins will look to create as much flow as possible in this one.  

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Frosh Shabazz Muhammad might not be setting the world on fire but he leads the team in scoring and is super aggressive.  PG Larry Drew III is a disappointment but one who is in the top 5 in the nation in assists.

Don’t overlook another frosh Kyle Anderson (it is hard because he is tall), the multi-talented wing is averaging nearly a double-double at 9 and 9.  This should be an interesting game to watch.

There is a lot of value on the UCLA side but a lot of risk too.  You can’t forget that this team has already lost to Cal-Poly this season and if they get down early on the road they might just pack it in.  I think they will play a close game decided in the last couple of minutes.

It will teeter back and forth whether they cover but I think they will even if they don’t challenge the outcome. [ad-6571516]

Arizona

The Wildcats have bounced back to win two straight road games after falling at Oregon (who also just beat UCLA).  They are a perfect 9-0 at home but in conference play they have been a bit sluggish needing overtime to beat a Colorado (in a game the Buffs really won in regulation) as well as beating an awful Utah team by just three points.

This team has overachieved this season but they might not be quite as good as some think.

Arizona is the far more experienced team with players like guard Mark Lyons and forward Solomon Hill leading the way.  Not sure that will make a huge difference in this one but the Cat’s go young for depth not necessarily for production.  Arizona will look to play a steady game and force UCLA into mistakes which is a good strategy.

They don’t have as many players who can just flat out make a play though.

It is a disturbing trend that the Wildcats don’t clobber opponents at home – you would think a veteran team like they have would have a stronger killer instinct. Instead they let teams hang around killing supporters who like this team to go far this season.

I think this is going to be another one of those situations.

Spread Pick:  UCLA +8.5
O/U Pick:  Under
Score Prediction:  Arizona 68 – UCLA 64

By The Wiesguy

The Wiesguy is a newcomer to the handicapping scene. Hailing from Toronto, Canada he is always sweet on the underdogs and you can often find his thoughts, musings and picks at moneydogs.blogspot.com.