Sun Devils To Keep It Close
Despite the UCLA Bruins owning a 16-2 record, the Arizona State Sun Devils are only a +5 underdog for Thursday’s college basketball clash, thanks to an equally impressive 15-3 record.
The Bruins and Sun Devils are quality teams and they lead the Pac-12 Conference ahead of USC and Utah.
College basketball odds expect a tight battle and we wouldn’t expect anything less from these teams.
Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports, and college basketball lines for UCLA vs Arizona State. We’ve plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.
Bruins Seeking 14th Straight
It’s not easy to win 14 consecutive games in college basketball, but that’s what the Bruins are gunning for against the Sun Devils.
They have beaten the likes of Colorado, Utah, and USC recently. Those wins hold them in good stead, especially the 60-58 close win against the Trojans, who are 13-5 overall.
Not only have they been winning games, but they’re also 11-7 against the spread (ATS), so bettors have been cashing in regularly.
They covered three of their last four games, including covering a -12 number against Colorado on Saturday, so they’re not strangers to covering lines as the favorite.
Being a -5 favorite isn’t surprising against Arizona State since they have been the better team. However, it’s usually a tight finish, so the sportsbook predicts the game will come down to the final few minutes.
UCLA still has many top-quality players from last season, including Jaime Jaquez Jr, so that bodes well and will make them tough to defend against.
Sun Devils Finding Rhythm
The Sun Devils are 15-3 and 6-1 in the Pac-12 Conference, so they’re playing well, winning all games following a disappointing 69-60 loss to Arizona on Dec. 31.
They rebounded with wins over Washington State, Washington, Oregon, and Oregon State. The most recent win was a 74-69 win over Oregon State on the road as a -9 favorite, so although they didn’t cover the spread, the win was solid.
Arizona State is 10-7-1 ATS, so it’s also doing enough to keep bettors happy. However, to cover the number against UCLA, it will need to defend Tyger Campbell, who has improved significantly in the ball-playing ranks for the Bruins.
“He was always a good point guard but all the skills just increased,” Sun Devils guard Desmond Cambridge said. “He can really run a team, figure out what their team needs in turmoil when they’re not playing well. He can facilitate, shoot, get to any spot on the court. He’s a really good player, point guard but we play pretty good defense so we’re going to try and make it a hard time doing whatever he wants to do.”
Getting +5 points with NCAAB odds at home could prove vital. The home team is 17-6-2 ATS in the last 25 meetings, so having home-court advantage can’t be overlooked in a tight contest.
UCLA vs Arizona State Game Injuries
UCLA vs Arizona State Head-to-Head
Arizona State has covered seven of the last 10 spreads, but UCLA won and covered the most recent meeting.
It won 66-52 last year as a -13 favorite. However, the Sun Devils have always played much better at home and recent history suggests as much.
UCLA vs Arizona State Game Information
- Game: UCLA (16-2, 7-0 Pac-12) vs Arizona State (15-3, 6-1)
- Day/Time: Thursday, Jan. 19, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, AZ
- UCLA vs Arizona StateLive stream: TBS.com
UCLA vs Arizona State Betting Lines
UCLA vs Arizona State Picks & Prediction
Being the fifth-ranked team comes with pressure, and although we think UCLA is the best team, Arizona State is always tough to beat at home.
Given recent history, we’re taking the Sun Devils to cover the spread. They also have a chance to win the game outright, so take the +5 points or the moneyline odds.
UCLA is listed at -210 in our Vegas NCAAB lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Bruins, there’s a chance to win $48. Arizona State is +175, offering a chance to win $175 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives UCLA a 67.74% chance to win, with the Sun Devils at 36.36%.
UCLA vs Arizona State Trends
UCLA vs Arizona State Edge
UCLA vs Arizona State Results
UCLA vs Arizona State Game Summary
