Props.com breaks down the college basketball betting odds for a pair of top-25 matchups (Arizona-UCLA, Michigan State-Illinois), along with one SEC football stalwart making its debut as the country’s top-ranked hoops team.
The college basketball world has had to wait 26 additional days for UCLA and Arizona to square off, as their originally scheduled clash on Dec. 30 was postponed due to COVID issues.
On the plus side, the Pac-12’s biggest game in years — one that involves two legit Final Four contenders — now has the national TV spotlight to itself, without having to compete with the NFL or college football.
Will this clash of top seven powers at iconic Pauley Pavilion live up to the high-scoring hype?
Odds via DraftKings and updated as of 1:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 25.
No. 3 Arizona Vs No. 7 UCLA
Tipoff/TV: 11 p.m. ET/ESPN
Arizona: 16-1 SU (6-0 Pac-12)/11-5-1 ATS
UCLA: 13-2 SU (5-1 Pac-12)/6-8-1 ATS
Spread/Total: UCLA +3 (-110)/151
Last Meeting: The Bruins won 74-60 as a 2-point home favorite (Feb. 18, 2021)
About Arizona: Now under the direction of head coach Tommy Lloyd, the Wildcats have won five in a row (3-2 ATS) since suffering their lone loss of the season (77-73 at Tennessee as a 1-point underdog). Arizona owns the country’s largest scoring differential, defeating opponents by an average of 24.3 points per game. The Wildcats also boast the No. 2 scoring offense in the nation (88.7 ppg), trailing only Gonzaga.
About UCLA: The Bruins have won three in a row and eight of nine, the only hiccup being an 84-81 overtime loss to Oregon as a 9.5-point home favorite on Jan. 13. In Pac-12 circles, UCLA ranks first in three-point proficiency (36.2%), second in scoring offense (78.8 ppg), second in scoring differential (12.7 ppg), third in assists, and third in steals.
What’s At Stake: Tonight’s winner will occupy sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 standings and further enhance its argument for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Players To Watch
Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin averages a team-best 17.5 points per game and is tied for second in rebounding (6.1 per game). Mathurin has scored in double digits in 11 consecutive contests, during which time he’s averaging 19.5 ppg.
Johnny Juzang paces UCLA with 18.3 points per contest. He’s also third on the team in rebounding (5.0 per game). The Bruins’ guard has poured in between 23 and 28 points in each of his last four games (24.5 ppg average), while also nabbing 24 total rebounds.
Notable Trends
- Arizona started the season 8-1-1 ATS, but is 3-4 ATS since
- UCLA is 3-7-1 ATS in its last 11 overall and 1-4-1 ATS in its last six at home
- Under is 5-2 in Arizona’s last seven overall and 7-3 in UCLA’s last 10 overall
- Over is 7-2 in UCLA’s last nine home games
- UCLA is 5-0 SU/ATS in its last five vs. Arizona
- Underdog is 17-4 ATS in the last 21 head-to-head meetings
Arizona Vs UCLA Odds and Action
UPDATE 5:30 p.m. ET: Arizona stands as a 2.5 point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook at the time of this update. The Wildcats opened as a 2 point favorite with the line moving to Arizona -3 before settling at the ‘Cats -2.5. DraftKings reports that 42% of the tickets are on Arizona against the spread, but 64% of the handle is backing the Wildcats … The total opened at 152.5 and is down to 151 at the time of this update. 62% of tickets but only 28% of the handle is on the Under.
No. 10 Michigan State Vs No. 24 Illinois
Tipoff/TV: 7 p.m. ET/ESPN
Michigan State: 15-3 SU (6-1 Big Ten)/10-8 ATS
Illinois: 13-5 SU (6-2 Big Ten)/9-9 ATS
Spread/Total: Illinois -4.5 (-115)/142 (Under -115)
Last Meeting: Michigan State beat then-No. 5 Illinois 81-72 as a 6.5-point road underdog (Feb. 23, 2021)
About Michigan State-Illinois: The Spartans are coming off Friday’s 86-74 rout of Wisconsin as a 3-point road underdog and have won 10 of their last 11 (6-5 ATS). The Fighting Illini have followed up a six-game winning streak (5-1 ATS) by dropping two in a row to Purdue (home) and Maryland (road). Illini center Kofi Cockburn — who missed Saturday’s loss at Maryland because of a concussion — likely will return to action Tuesday. Cockburn is one of two Big Ten players to rank among the league’s top five in scoring (21.1 ppg) and rebounding (11.8 rpg).
Notable Trends
- Michigan State has cashed in on five consecutive road games
- Illinois is 5-2 ATS in its last seven at home
- Over is 7-3-1 in Michigan State’s last 11 overall
- Over is 11-2-1 in Illinois’ last 14 overall, and 7-1-1 in its last nine at home
- Michigan State is 7-2 SU/6-3 ATS in its last nine vs. Illinois
- Home team is 4-1 SU/5-0 ATS in the last five series battles
Michigan State Vs Illinois Odds and Action
UPDATE 5:30 p.m. ET: Illinois opened as a 6-point favorite, but the spread dropped suddenly to Illini -4.5 and stayed there for most of the day. That’s the current spread on DraftKings Sportsbook at the time of this update. Michigan State currently has 84% of betting tickets as an underdog and a whopping 89% of the handle is backing them against the spread … The total has fallen to 142 after opening at 145.5. As it stands 75% of tickets are on the Over, but only 41% of the handle is falling that way.
No. 1 Auburn Vs Missouri
Tipoff/TV: 8:30 p.m. ET/SEC Network
Auburn: 18-1 SU (7-0 SEC)/15-4 ATS
Missouri: 8-10 SU (2-4 SEC)/8-9 ATS
Spread/Total: Auburn -13/141.5 (Under -115)
Last Meeting: Auburn defeated then-No. 12 Missouri 88-82 as a 2.5-point home favorite (Jan. 26, 2021)
About Auburn-Missouri: Since 1905, Auburn has won 1,417 basketball games and six SEC titles (two tournament crowns), and made one Final Four appearance (2019). But Tuesday will mark the Tigers’ first-ever game as the nation’s No. 1 team. They reached that milestone thanks to an ongoing 15-game winning streak (13-2 ATS). Missouri is coming off Saturday’s 86-76 loss at Alabama, but it covered as an 18-point underdog. Mizzou has cashed in three straight games but is just 2-5 SU in its last seven.
Notable Trends
- Auburn is 8-0 ATS in its last eight overall (7-0 ATS as a favorite; 3-0 ATS on the road)
- Auburn is 7-2 ATS as a double-digit favorite this season
- Missouri is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 as a home underdog (3-0 ATS this season)
- Over is 5-1 in Auburn’s last six overall
- Home team is 4-0 SU/ATS in the last four series meetings
- Over is 7-0 in the last seven meetings
Auburn Vs Missouri Odds and Action
UPDATE 5:30 p.m. ET: Auburn opened as a 14.5 point favorite, but the line is down to 13 at the time of this update. That’s despite 70% of tickets and 70% of the handle backing the Tigers according to DraftKings Sportsbook … The total has fallen from its opening of 144.5 to 141.5. DraftKings reports 61% of the money taking Under despite only 20% of tickets falling that way.
