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Arizona Wildcats vs. (21) Washington Huskies

Bookmark and Share by D.S. Williamson

The Arizona Wildcats, like so many times in recent years, find themselves on the bubble in regards to making the NCAA Tournament. Arizona’s program, at one time one of the best in the nation, has fallen on hard times in recent years. The Wildcats no doubt have a group of talented players led by Chase Budinger and Nic Wise, but they can’t seem to put it all together. Straight-up the Wildcats are 18 and 10. Against the spread they’ve gone a decent 16-11. Their record ATS on the road is 4 and 6.

UCLA for the top spot in the Pac-10 and this year is no different. The Huskies have a 21 and 7 straight-up record. Their ATS record is 17 and 9. Their against the spread record at home is 9 and 5.

Here is my personal betting line for this game.

Arizona Wildcats +6 ½ -110

Washington Huskies -6 ½ -110

Here are a few online wagering trends for this game.

The Arizona Wildcats have gone 4 and 1 against the spread in their last 5 games.

The Arizona Wildcats have gone 7 and 3 ATS in their last 10 games.

The Washington Huskies have gone 4 and 1 ATS in their last 5 games.

The Washington Huskies have gone 7 and 3 against the spread in their last 10 games.

Both teams have done very well against the spread recently. The difference between the two teams is in their philosophy.

While the Huskies are no doubt a fantastic ball-sharing team, four of their players scored in double figures in their last game, Arizona usually relies on one or two out of these three players: Chase Budinger, Nic Wise or Jordan Hill.

Hill and Budinger should find it difficult going up against Jon Brockman and Justin Dentmon. Both of those players for the Huskies are very good. When it comes to the point guard position, Nic Wise is as good as anybody in the Pac-10, but Washington’s Isaiah Thomas can run a game very well.

On paper this is going to be a very close game. I see the Huskies trying desperately to get some separation from the Cats but the Cats fighting back and making it very close in the end.

It’s not going to be easy, but because Arizona lost their last game straight-up to the Washington State Cougars, I see them possibly bouncing back and putting a scare in the Huskies.

If the basketball betting line where Arizona is a +4 ½ underdog or higher, then I’m taking Arizona to beat the spread. Anything less than 4 ½ will cause me to make a bet on Washington.