The Tuesday college basketball odds board is loaded with premium matchups, as the power leagues make their final push toward conference tournaments.
In the Pac-12 tonight, No. 2 Arizona is vying for an outright league title, and potentially a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. But first things first: The Wildcats must ward off USC’s last-minute surge for the conference crown.
The same goes for Wisconsin and Providence. The leaders of the Big Ten and Big East will be supremely tested by second-place challengers Purdue and Villanova, respectively.
Props.com breaks down the Tuesday college basketball betting odds for all three matchups.
Odds via WynnBet and updated as of 7:15 p.m. ET on March 1.
No. 2 Arizona Vs No. 16 USC
Tipoff/TV: 11 p.m. ET/ESPN
Arizona: 25-3 SU (15-2 Pac-12)/15-11-2 ATS
USC: 25-4 SU (14-4 Pac-12)/14-15 ATS
Spread/Total: Arizona -4.5/150.5
Last meeting: On Feb. 5, Arizona prevailed 72-63 at home, but the Trojans got the cash as a 10.5-point underdog
Did you know: The underdog has covered in each of the last six series meetings, including four outright wins
About Arizona: The Wildcats’ nine-game winning streak (5-4 ATS) was snapped in Saturday’s 79-63 loss at Colorado, where Arizona was a 9.5-point chalk. Arizona leads the Pac-12 in scoring offense (84.4 ppg, third nationally), field-goal shooting (48.9%), blocks (6.0 per game), assists (20.2 per contest), and rebounds (42.9 per game).
About USC: The Trojans are 8-1 SU in their last nine games, but are just 3-6 ATS in that stretch. However, USC won and covered Saturday, edging Oregon 70-69 as a 4.5-point road underdog. The Trojans lead the Pac-12 in 3-point shooting (35.6%) and are second in assists (14.6 per game), blocks (4.6 per contest) and field-goal shooting (45.6%).
What’s At Stake: Arizona (15-2) clinches the Pac-12 title with a win tonight. USC (14-4) still has a shot at the conference crown, but must win tonight and get some help this coming weekend. Arizona (No. 2 in NCAA’s NET rankings) is in prime position to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. USC (No. 27 NET ranking) remains a comfortable lock for the NCAAs.
Players To Watch
Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin is averaging a team-high 17.1 points per game. The 6-foot-6 sophomore and National Player of the Year candidate has scored in double figures in 25 of 28 games, though he was held to just eight points against USC on Feb. 5.
USC guard Drew Peterson is averaging 18.8 points per game during the Trojans’ six-game winning streak, including three 20-point efforts in the last five. For the season, the 6-foot-9 senior leads USC in 3-point shooting (43.6%), and he ranks second in scoring (12.5 ppg) and assists (3.3 per game), and third in rebounds (6.4 per game).
Notable Trends
- Arizona is 7-2 SU/ATS in Pac-12 road games this season
- USC is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 home games
- USC is 4-1 SU/5-0 ATS as an underdog this season
- USC is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings vs. Arizona
- Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last six series meetings
- The last five meetings have produced a combined average total of 143.6 points — well below tonight’s consensus total
Arizona Vs USC Odds and Action
UPDATE 10:45 P.M. ET: Fifteen minutes before tip time, Arizona is right where it was a few hours ago at WynnBet: a 4.5-point favorite. That’s down a notch from the -5 opener. However, the betting splits have seen noteworthy change. Arizona is now taking 72% of spread tickets and 55% of spread handle; 3.5 hours ago, the Wildcats were getting 67% of spread tickets, while USC was drawing 56% of spread money. The total toggled between 150.5 and 150 a couple of times, and it’s currently at 150, with 58% of tickets/77% of cash on the Under.
UPDATE 7:15 P.M. ET: WynnBet opened Arizona a 5-point favorite for this Pac-12 showdown, and the Wildcats are -4.5 about four hours before tipoff. Arizona is netting 67% of spread bets, while USC is getting 56% of spread dollars. The total is steady at 150.5, with 63% of bets/72% of money on the Under.
UPDATE 4:30 P.M. ET: Arizona hit Caesars’ Tuesday college basketball odds board as a 4.5-point favorite Monday evening, and the line hasn’t budged since. However, the Wildcats are drawing 69% of early spread tickets and 71% of early spread dollars. That said, tipoff is still 6.5 hours away, so a lot could change. The total opened at 150.5, briefly inched down to 150 this afternoon, then returned to 150.5. The Under is taking 66% of tickets and 89% of money.
No. 8 Purdue Vs No. 10 Wisconsin
Tipoff/TV: 9 p.m. ET/ESPN
Purdue: 24-5 SU (13-5 Big Ten)/13-15-1 ATS
Wisconsin: 23-5 SU (14-4 Big Ten)/16-12 ATS
Spread/Total: Purdue -3/144
Last meeting: On Jan. 3, the Badgers stunned then-No. 3 Purdue 74-69 as a 13-point road underdog
Did you know: Prior to the loss to Wisconsin, Purdue was on a 7-2 SU/7-1-1 ATS roll in this rivalry
About Purdue-Wisconsin: The Boilermakers fell to Michigan State 68-65 as 4.5-point road favorites Saturday, leading to their four-slot drop in the AP poll. The Badgers are riding a four-game winning streak (3-1 ATS), including Saturday’s 66-61 victory over Rutgers as 2-point road ‘dogs. The first-place Badgers, who lead Purdue and Illinois by one game apiece, control their fate for the Big Ten crown. A win tonight in Madison would eliminate the Boilermakers from title consideration. Wisconsin hosts bottom-feeding Nebraska in Sunday’s regular-season finale. For, Purdue is 12th and Wisconsin 21st in the NCAA’s NET rankings and are locks for the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers are first in the Big Ten in assists (17.3 per game), field-goal shooting (50.6%), and 3-point shooting (39.9%).
Notable Trends
- Purdue is 1-4-2 ATS in its last seven overall (all as a favorite)
- Purdue is 8-0 ATS in its last eight Tuesday games
- Wisconsin is 1-4 ATS in its last five at home
- Wisconsin is 4-0 ATS as an underdog of less than 5 points
- Over is 8-3 in Wisconsin’s last 11 at home
- Home team is 7-2 SU/6-2-1 ATS in the last nine series meetings
- Over is 5-0 in the last five head-to-head clashes
Purdue Vs Wisconsin Odds and Action
UPDATE 7:15 P.M. ET: Less than two hours before tipoff, Purdue is a 3-point favorite at WynnBet, up a tick from the -2.5 opener. The Boilermakers are taking 74% of spread tickets, but just 57% of spread money. The total opened and is currently at 144, with the Over nabbing 69% of tickets/73% of money.
UPDATE 4:30 P.M. ET: On Monday night, Caesars pegged Purdue a 2.5-point favorite in its Tuesday college basketball odds market. Overnight, the Boilermakers rose to -3, where the line has stuck all day. Wisconsin is actually taking a modest majority of tickets and cash, at 53% and 54%, respectively. The total is painted at 144 and also seeing two-way action, with 59% of tickets/53% of money on the Over.
No. 9 Providence Vs No. 11 Villanova
Tipoff/TV: 6:30 p.m. ET/FS1
Providence: 24-3 SU (14-2 Big East)/16-11 ATS
Villanova: 21-7 SU (14-4 Big East)/14-12-2 ATS
Spread/Total: Villanova -9.5/134.5
Last meeting: On Feb. 15, Villanova beat Providence 89-84 as a 4-point road favorite, the Friars’ only loss since Jan. 4
Did you know: Prior to the Villanova defeat, Providence was 7-0 SU/ATS as an underdog
About Providence-Villanova: Technically, Providence has already clinched the Big East title. Due to three COVID-related cancellations, the Friars (14-2) will complete conference play with only 17 games and would still be percentage points ahead of Villanova (14-4) under any clinching scenario. In other words, it’s possible Villanova sweeps the season series against Providence, posts two more league wins, and still falls short of the Big East title. Villanova enters this game after a one-week break, following a 71-69 loss to Connecticut as a 2-point road pup. On Saturday, Providence crushed Creighton 72-51 while covering as 4.5-point home favorites. The Wildcats rank first in in the Big East in 3-point shooting (36.5%).
Notable Trends
- Providence is 6-1 SU/5-1-1 ATS in Big East road games
- Villanova is 3-7-1 ATS in its last 11 overall (2-4 ATS at home)
- Over is 9-4 in Providence’s last 13 overall
- Under is 7-3 in Villanova’s last 10 at home
- Villanova is 6-2 SU/ATS in the last eight series meetings (all as a favorite)
- Under is 7-3 in the last 10 head-to-head battles
Providence Vs Villanova Odds and Action
UPDATE 4:30 P.M. ET: Villanova opened as a solid 9-point chalk Monday night at Caesars books and briefly touched -10 before dialing back to -9.5 late this morning. Bettors are on road underdog Providence, with ticket count almost 5/1 and money 3/1 on the Friars. The total is stable at 134.5, though two hours before tipoff, the Over is netting 89% of bets/87% of cash.
