Free NCAA Hoops Pick: Bruins vs. Wildcats CBB Odds
Looking for UCLA Bruins vs. Arizona Wildcats NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Bruins taking on the Wildcats on Thursday February 18, 2021 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all college basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily basketball predictions like this Bruins Wildcats matchup.
2021 NCAA Basketball Handicapping
(14-5) UCLA Bruins vs. Arizona Wildcats (14-7)
Date: Thursday February 18, 2021
Time: 9:00 PM ET
Venue: Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA
CBB Moneyline Odds: OFF
CBB Betting Odds: Arizona +1.5
CBB Betting Total: O/U 140.5
Two Pac-12 teams sitting just outside the top-25 meet for the second time this season as the UCLA Bruins host the Arizona Wildcats at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.
UCLA is currently trailing USC by one game for the top spot in the PAC-12 conference. The Bruins went 1-2 on a three game road trip over the last week, losing to Washington State and USC while beating Washington.
Arizona has dropped four of its last six games. The Wildcats are 8-7 in conference play after losing at home to Oregon. The Wildcats will not be in the tournament this year after imposing a self-ban.
UCLA Bruins
The Bruins has high expectations coming into this season under the direction of Mick Cronin. After starting 12-2 overall and 9-1 in conference play, the Bruins have hit a rough patch of late and need a big win over the Wildcats to try and help their seeding in the tournament.
UCLA’s offense has been inconsistent over the last five games. They barely squeezed by Washington, 64-61, on the strength of 10 3-pointers. Johnny Juzang erupted for half the team’s points, posting 32 points on five 3-pointers.
The Bruins average 73 points per game so far this season, putting them 139th in the nation in scoring offense. UCLA is tough on the glass, grabbing 36.1 boards a night, and dishes off 14.3 assists per game. UCLA is top 75 in the country in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage.
Defensively, the Bruins allow 67.5 points per game. They are 88th in the nation in defensive rating according to Bart Torvik.
Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats will look to bounce back following a home loss at the hands of the Oregon.
Sean Miller is usually able to reload the Wildcats with talent year after year, and that has continued to be the case in 2021. The Wildcats have been heavily reliant on underclassmen this season, and they have stepped up and produced.
James Akinjo, Azuolas Tubelis, Bennedict Mathurin and Jordan Brown have been the focal points of the Wildcats offense. They have pitched in 62 percent of the team’s scoring this year and 75 percent of all Wildcats points over the team’s last five games.
Akinjo has been the most welcoming addition to the Wildcats this season. The Georgetown transfer is shooting 39 percent from deep and leads the team 14.3 PPG.
Arizona is the 17th best offensive team in the country, according to Bart Torvik. They draw fouls frequently, hit threes at over 38 percent, and have the 18th highest offensive rebounding percentage in the country.
Defensively, the Wildcats struggle with defending the 3-point line and forcing turnovers. That being said, they pose a difficult matchup for the Bruins frontcourt rebounding wise.
CBB Betting Trends:
- Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Bruins are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Bruins are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
- Bruins are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
- Bruins are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Underdog is 17-4 ATS in the last 21 meetings.
Free UCLA Bruins vs. Arizona Wildcats NCAAB Prediction:
This game is a tough one to call, but I’m sticking with Arizona. I believe the Wildcats are the better team and will take this matchup against a UCLA that has struggled to cover the spread in their last month of games.
4* Free CBB Betting Pick: Arizona +1.5
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