by Chuck Sommers
Sunday, Feb 06, 2022
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Venue: Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, AZ
Where to watch: FS1
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Arizona State -13.5
BetMGM: Arizona State -13.5
Caesars: Arizona State -13.5
Season record
No. 7 Arizona: 19-2 (9-1 Pac-12)
Arizona State: 7-13 (3-7 Pac-12)
Tom Stryker is on a strong 10-5-1 run in college basketball over the past week. You love to see it. What does he have in store for Saturday's jam-packed action? Find out here. Catch Tom's plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Arizona - Arizona State preview, analysis and prediction
They can't possibly do it again, right?
We're seriously not sitting here 48 hours remove from the Arizona State sun devils pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the season on their home floor, and thinking they can do it again but to their in-state rivals this time around, right?
I refuse to be a prisoner of the moment and I think you should be as well. With the Arizona Wildcats coming into Tempe on Monday against their rivals, I like Arizona to win this game.
The No. 7 Wildcats are on a 3 game winning streak since losing to UCLA back on January 25th, and the two teams will meet for the second time since January 29th. That was an 11 point victory for Arizona on its home floor, and Arizona transitioned that into two more strong victories at home against UCLA and USC.
USC may not be the powerhouse that it was earlier in the season, but being able to survive against USC's stingy athleticism and ability to dominate on the glass, getting that big tree was a strong message from Arizona to the rest of the conference. Azuolas Tubelis had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Wildcats, and the group needed only four 3-point makes to win this game.
"I think we can win in a lot of ways," Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. "We're a great defensive team. At the end of the day, that's probably our calling card. Hopefully, certain nights you're explosive on offense ... but we're more than comfortable in games like that."
Not that I think that there was any question to Arizona being the top team in the PAC 12 conference, but we are starting to see a little separation at the top. UCLA and Oregon are right below at 8-3, while Arizona has only lost one time in 10 conference games.
Arizona has not really been a great team against the spread. The Wildcats have failed to cover in three of their last four but two of those games saw them as double-digit favorites against Arizona State and USC. The 67-56 win over ASU saw Arizona as 21.5-point favorites. The only number greater during conference play was 24.5 against Washington on Jan. 3.
At time of publishing, Arizona State finds itself at 13.5-point underdogs, and one has to think that that line has climbed a little bit after ASU's shocking victory over the No. 3-ranked Bruins in triple overtime.
In order for ASU to have a chance, Marreon Jackson is going to need to build off that performance against UCLA, scoring 24 points and nearly outperforming Jaime Jaquez Jr.
"What all of us have been through for two years, it's good for everyone to enjoy a good moment," ASU coach Bobby Hurley said. "It was exciting to see that."
But what I don't think will be exciting is seeing Arizona walk all over the in-state rivals. The under is 7-0 in ASU’s last seven Monday games, and Arizona’s balanced offense will give ASU fits. The home team is 4-1 ATS in the last five, with the one loss coming this season. I can’t see that happening now that the line has dropped a tad. Arizona by 17
Betting trends
Arizona is 14-4 ATS off consecutive unders in its last 18 games.
Arizona is 4-12 ATS off back-to-back conference victories.
The under is 15-5 in Arizona State's games this season.
Arizona State is 5-15 ATS off an upset win as a home dog in its last 20.
Projected starting lineup
Arizona:
PG: Kerr Kriisa
SG: Dalen Terry
SF: Bennedict Mathurin
PF: Azuolas Tubelis
C: Christian Koloko
SF: Bennedict Mathurin
PF: Azuolas Tubelis
C: Christian Koloko
Arizona State:
PG: D.J. Home
SG: Jay Heath
SF: Kimani Lawrence
PF: Alonzo Gaffney
C: Jalen Graham
SF: Kimani Lawrence
PF: Alonzo Gaffney
C: Jalen Graham
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Arizona - Arizona State prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily college basketball projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
