Arizona vs. Arizona State Prediction
Number five Arizona heads to Tempe to face unranked Arizona State at 2:00 PM ET Saturday afternoon on FOX. Can the Wildcats cover the 6-point spread as road favorites on New Year’s Eve?
Arizona is 12-1 on the year with their best wins coming over Indiana and Tennessee. Their only loss came against Utah on December 1st. The Wildcats are 5-7-1 against the spread this season.
Arizona State is 11-2 this season with their best wins coming over Michigan and Colorado. Their only two losses came against Texas Southern and San Francisco. The Sun Devils are 8-5 against the spread this year.
Game Matchup and Betting Odds
669 Arizona Wildcats (-6) vs. 670 Arizona State Sun Devils (+6); O/U 155.5
2:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 31, 2022
Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, AZ
Arizona vs. Arizona State Public Betting Information
Our CBB Public Betting Information page indicates that the public favors the Wildcats in this contest. Our public betting data illustrates that 64% of public bets are on Arizona -6. Do note that these numbers are subject to change and could be different once tipoff rolls around, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Arizona Game Notes
Arizona’s best player is 6’11” junior forward Azuolas Tubelis. Tubelis leads the Pac-12 in scoring with 20.1 points per game and he’s second in the conference in rebounding with 8.7 per game. The Lithuanian big man has posted 61.4/42.9/80.4 field goal/three-point/free throw percentages this season.
One of the Wildcats’ most crucial backcourt players is senior guard Courtney Ramey. The 6’3” St. Louis native is averaging 11.7 points and 3.2 assists per game while knocking down 45% of his three-point attempts this season. Arizona will need three-point shooting from both Azuolas Tubelis and Courtney Ramey if they’re going to win and cover this rivalry game on the road on Saturday.
Arizona State Game Notes
Sun Devils guard DJ Horne is tied for the team in scoring with 12.5 points per game. The Illinois State transfer is contributing in other categories as well as he’s averaging 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game for Arizona State this year.
Arizona State forward Marcus Bagley has been suspended since November 29th for disciplinary reasons and will miss Saturday’s game. Bagley had been averaging 12.5 points per game for the Sun Devils through two games this season.
Sun Devils senior forward Warren Washington has stepped up in Bagley’s absence, posting 8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting 62.5% from the field through 13 games for Arizona State this season.
Arizona vs. Arizona State CBB Betting Trends
Arizona is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following an ATS loss.
Arizona is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following an outright win of more than 20 points.
Arizona State is 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games following an outright loss of more than 20 points.
Arizona State is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Arizona vs. Arizona State CBB Prediction:
Arizona might be one of the best teams in the country. They are 12-1 and lead the nation in scoring with 90.8 points per game. But the Wildcats have only played one true road game all season, and it came against Utah on December 1st. Arizona lost that game handily 81-66. Going into Tempe for a rivalry game on New Year’s Eve against an Arizona State team that ranks 26th in the nation in defensive efficiency is a tough ask for the Wildcats. I think Arizona State has a legitimate chance to win this game outright, but I’ll take the points as the pick just to be safe.
CBB BETTING PREDICTION: ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS +6
