Pac 12 Basketball Matchups: UCLA at Arizona 2022
Clash Between Ranked Teams Best Game This Weekend
The Pac 12 basketball matchups have one of the best conference games of the year, as UCLA visits Arizona. There are several other solid games during the week but they’ll all take a backseat to the Bruins and the Wildcats. USC and Arizona State both have some talent, so neither can afford to look ahead too much.
Thursday, Jan. 19
Washington State Cougars vs Utah Utes
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, Utah)
The Pac-12 basketball matchups begin with a decent game between Washington State (9-10) and Utah (12-7). The Utes are favored by 3 and the total is 130. Don’t be fooled by WSU’s 9-10 record.
The Cougars have played one of the toughest schedules in the country and held their own in a lot of games. Washington should welcome back TJ Bamba, who has missed the last two games with one of the college basketball injuries that seem to be going around right now.
The Cougars live and die with the 3-pointer, scoring nearly 39% of their points from 3-point range, but Utah is No. 9 in the country defending the 3-pointer. Utah is much better on defense and should have some success inside the paint.
USC Trojans vs Arizona Wildcats
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: McKale Memorial Center (Tucson, Arizona)
Streaming: Pac-12 Network
Arizona is favored by 7 over Southern Cal and the total on the game is 153.5. The Wildcats are much better offensively but the Trojans get the nod for team defense.
The Wildcats are No. 8 in the country in 2-point field goal percentage but USC leads the nation in 2-point defense. Arizona is a good offensive-rebounding team and the Trojans allow too many second chances. But the Trojans can play with Arizona and the line is a bit on the high side, especially with the Bruins on tap for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats have been overpriced all year, going just 6-11-1 against the NCAAB point spreads. The Trojans are worth a look getting 7 points or more.
 UCLA Bruins vs Arizona State Sun Devils
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Desert Financial Arena (Tempe, Arizona)
Streaming: FOX Sports 1
The Bruins (16-2) are favored by 4.5 points over the Sun Devils (15-3) and the total on the game is 135.5. The matchups here appear to work in ASU’s favor but the spread is pretty low.
The line lets you know that this won’t be an easy one for UCLA. The Sun Devils are No. 4 in the country in 2-point field goal defense and that’s where the Bruins score 61.7% of their points.
If ASU can stop UCLA on the inside, this one can go either way. Both teams should have some success on the offensive glass and that could very well be where this game is decided.
Saturday, Jan. 21
 UCLA Bruins vs Arizona Wildcats
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: McKale Memorial Center (Tucson, Arizona)
Streaming: ABC
The Pac 12 basketball matchups don’t get any better than UCLA visiting Arizona. These are the two preseason conference favorites. And neither team has done anything to change that.
The Bruins should be the slightest of favorites here. UCLA is ranked higher than the Wildcats and get a slight edge in the statistics. Still, traveling into McKale Center and coming away with a win is a difficult task.
The Bruins get a big edge defensively, in part due to the Wildcats not forcing many turnovers. The Bruins don’t shoot a lot of 3-pointers, which is a good thing for Arizona, as 3-point defense is its weak spot.
The Wildcats can score inside, where the Bruins struggle on defense at times. The total is going to be high, close to 150, and the under could be the way to go here.
 USC Trojans vs Arizona State Sun Devils
Date & Time & Streaming:
Location: Desert Financial Arena (Tempe, Arizona)
Streaming: ESPNU
Another decent game in the Pac-12, the Sun Devils will be favored by about 4 points with a total near 138. If either team pulls the upset on Thursday, they become go-against teams in this one, as the letdown effect will become huge.
Of they both lose, this one will be a solid game between two fairly evenly matched teams. Both are strong with their 2-point defense and neither one shoots the 3-pointer well. ASU shoots more 3-pointers than USC and should make a few, but this one has fair under potential.
Date & Time & Streaming:
Location: Maples Pavilion (Stanford, California)
Streaming: Pac-12 Network
A late-night game between Oregon and Stanford will have the Ducks favored about 11 points with a total in the area of 130. The Ducks are coming off back-to-back impressive wins against Arizona and California, while Stanford has lost five straight conference games heading into Thursday’s game with Oregon State, which is a game it should win.
Oregon is superior on offense and defense and if the Ducks get out to an early lead, this one could get ugly for the Cardinal.
Sunday, Jan. 22
 Washington State Cougars vs Colorado Buffaloes
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: CU Events Center (Boulder, Colorado)
Streaming: ESPNU
The Pac-12 basketball matchups end this week with a decent contest between Washington State and Colorado, where the Buffaloes will be favored by about 4 with a total near 136.
The Cougars are better offensively, while Colorado gets a big edge on defense.
The Cougars are going to play their style of slow, deliberate basketball, while Colorado looks to push the pace. Washington State will shoot the 3-pointer, where Colorado is a bit weaker on defense, while the Buffs should be able to exploit WSU’s inside defense.
This one looks as though it offers a little bit of value on the over.
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