Pac-12 Basketball Roundup: Arizona at ASU Highlights Week
Strong Slate of Games Over New Year's Weekend

The Pac-12 basketball roundup shows a number of good games over the New Year’s weekend. The Los Angeles schools are visiting Washington, while the rivalry between the Arizona Wildcats and ASU Sun Devils resumes in Tempe, Ariz. The Ducks and Beavers battle for bragging rights in Oregon, so all-in-all, a good weekend for college basketball fans.
Friday, Dec. 30
USC Trojans vs Washington Huskies
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Alaska Airlines Arena (Seattle, Washington)
Streaming: ESPN2
The Pac-12 basketball roundup begins with a good one in Seattle, as the USC Trojans (10-3) visit the UW Huskies (9-4). Neither teams has fared well against the college basketball point spreads, with each entering the game 6-7 against the spread. The Trojans are -1 and the total on the game is 141.5. Both teams are a little better on the defensive side, and Southern Cal is No. 21 if effective field goal percentage is allowed. The teams have some similarities, with both turning the ball over too much and neither is particularly strong on the offensive glass. The under 141.5 is worth a look.
UCLA Bruins vs Washington State Cougars
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Beasley Coliseum (Pullman, Washington)
Streaming: Pac-12 Network
The Pac 12 basketball roundup concludes Friday night action with a decent game between the No. 11 UCLA Bruins (11-2) and the WSU Cougars (5-8). The Bruins are favored by 8.5 and the total on the game is 133.5. WSU is likely a little better than its 5-8 record, having played just four home games and the 38th most difficult schedule in the country. Washington State is above average offensively and defensively, the problem is UCLA is better in both. Turnovers could be a problem for Washington State, as the Cougars turn the ball over 21% of the time and the Bruins are No. 10 in the country in turnovers forced.
Saturday, Dec. 31
Arizona Wildcats vs Arizona State Sun Devils
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Desert Financial Arena (Tempe, Arizona)
Streaming: FOX
Saturday’s Pac-12 basketball roundup begins with No. 5 Arizona (12-1) visiting Arizona State (11-2) in a solid game.
The Wildcats are going to be small road favorites here, with the line being around Arizona -5. Arizona have played a slightly tougher schedule so far.
Arizona’s offense is No. 1 in the country in effective field goal percentage, adjusted offensive efficiency and 2-point field goal percentage. But the Sun Devils can play defense, ranking No. 34 in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Sun Devils are better than average offensively, while Arizona is a decent defensive team. The Sun Devils could be worth a look if the line gets higher than Arizona -5.
Oregon State Beavers vs Oregon Ducks
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Knight Arena (Eugene, Oregon)
Streaming: Pac-12 Network
Oregon State (7-6) visits in state rival Oregon (7-6) in a game that probably won’t be quite as good as some previous matchups. While the teams have identical records, the Ducks have played a much-tougher schedule, with the Sagarin college basketball rankings showing the Ducks with the 25th-toughest schedule. The Beavers have played the No. 221 schedule. As a result, the Ducks are going to be favored close to 15 points here, and even that may not be quite enough. OSU ranks No. 270 in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 151 on defense. The Ducks are No. 46 on offense and No. 56 on defense. The pace of the game could hinder the Ducks covering the spread and there could be better college basketball betting opportunities Saturday, but Oregon looks to be the only way to go in this one.
Sunday, Jan. 1
USC Trojans vs Washington State Cougars
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Beasley Coliseum (Pullman, Washington)
Streaming: Pac-12 Network
The Trojans make the trip across the state to face the Cougars in what should be a good game between two pretty evenly matched squads.
“The Cougars should be small favorites depending on what transpires Friday. Neither team has a decided advantage in any one area.”
The Cougars will do their best to slow things down, which is when WSU is at its best. Southern Cal likes to play at a faster pace.
If the Cougars can get some second chances they have a solid opportunity to win this one. WSU is No. 52 in offensive rebounding percentage, while USC is No. 294 in allowing offensive rebounds. The Cougars are worth a shot here provided UCLA and USC win Friday night.
UCLA Bruins vs Washington Huskies
Date, Time & Streaming:
Location: Beasley Coliseum (Pullman, Washington)
Streaming: Pac-12 Network
The Pac-12 basketball roundup concludes with a look at the UCLA Bruins visiting the Washington Huskies. The Bruins are going to be close to double-digit favorites in this one. The Washington trip has tripped up more than one ranked team in the past but the Bruins have decided advantages over the Huskies offensively and defensively. The Bruins can make scoring tough for the Huskies unless Washington can get to the foul line some, where UW shoots 76.4% for the ncaab season. Both teams play at a slightly higher than normal pace, so there could be a little more scoring than expected.
Follow us on Twitter