UCLA (25-6) vs. Arizona (19-11), 9:20 p.m. Eastern, FSN
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
The PAC 10 champion UCLA Bruins run into the Arizona Wildcats Friday night in a conference tournament semifinal game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
UCLA has won five games in a row, including a 79-47 beating of Oregon State Thursday as 16-point favorites. The Bruins hit 10 of 16 three-point attempts vs. the Beavers.
Arizona has won six of its last eight games, including a 73-68 victory over Stanford Thursday as three-point chalk. The Wildcats played without leading scorer Hassan Adams (17 ppg), who's been suspended and will miss the PAC 10 tournament. Nonetheless, the Wildcats committed just seven turnovers vs. the Cardinal.
UCLA has been kind to bettors this season, going 17-10 against the spread. The Bruins are also 10-8 ats as a favorite and 13-6 ats vs. PAC 10 opponents.
Arizona, on the other hand, is just 11-19 against the spread on the season, 2-4 ats as an underdog and 7-12 ats in PAC 10 play.
UCLA won the PAC 10 regular season title with a 14-4 mark, while Arizona finished 11-7, tied for fourth in the conference.
The Bruins swept the season series with Arizona, winning 85-79 in Tuscon in January and 84-73 in L.A. in February. UCLA shot 61 percent from the floor in the first game (Arizona 53 percent), and held the 'Cats to 2 of 9 from three-point land. In the second meeting the Bruins led by 16 at the half.
On the season, UCLA is shooting 48 percent from the field, owns a +5.7 rebounds per game margin and holds opponents to 42 percent FG shooting and 59 points per game.
Arizona hasn't been much of a threat from deep, hitting just 31 percent of their 3-point attempts this season.
The latest Sagarin PREDICTOR ratings have UCLA ranked 18th at 86.3, Arizona 23rd at 84.9. And in the latest RPI at NCAAsports.com, the Bruins are ranked 13th, the Wildcats 24th.
The over is 16-13 in Arizona games this season, but 10-16 in UCLA games.
The UC Pick: Arizona is missing players and UCLA is red hot. We really don't like laying on favorites but have to take the Bruins here. We like them to go a ways in the big dance as well.
