NCAA Hoops Money Maker UCLA @ Arizona

• 12 February 2016

Traditional powers of the Pac 12 collide in our College Free Pick of the Day.  UCLA at 13-10 is staggering to stay above .500 let alone make the tourney.  Arizona has also been suffering as they have been supplanted from their perch on Olympus.  These two teams meet in the desert with the Bruins needing this game to not only sweep Zona but keep alive their flickering hopes.  Linemakers have decided that the home team is a double digit favorite here.  Which way will the winds of profit blow in from in this 9PM start.

 

Rested Up for Rough Stretch

UCLA could not go into their break with a win as they got drubbed 80-61  by USC.  With over a week off, the Bruins get five road games in the course of a short span of time.  Behind the eight ball, Arizona is not as formidable as they used to be at home.  The problem with UCLA is that when they lose it is often by blowout margins.  13 points or more in six of their losses.  With the spread at +11 1/2, is it more of a matter of Zona and the points or UCLA ML in this one?

Rebounding from a 4-4 Conference Record

The start of this season’s Pac 12 schedule was rough for Arizona.  A 4-4 start has seen some progress with Zona getting three straight wins as of late.  Their team defense is leading the way.  Holding opponents under 40 percent from the floor has seen the points against dip to 66.3.  Ryan Anderson has been tearing it up going for four straight double doubles in the process.  Even when turning the ball over, their rebound margin is such that they can overcome occasional bouts of being sloppy with the ball.

One of the few things that UCLA can do well is rebound on both sides of the court.  This goes right into the teeth of what Zona does well.  Tonight is a very polarizing situation.  UCLA ML at +600 or Zona the -11 1/2 points.  UCLA is so off and on that anything else is in dire jeopardy.  Good fortune in which path you take and we will see you tomorrow here at the HRW.