The No.3 ranked Arizona Wildcats look to stay unbeaten in Pac-12 play as they head to Palo Alto to take on the Stanford Cardinal in a weekday game.
The Wildcats are 14-1 on the season and are fresh off an 18-point home win over Utah. Stanford is 10-5 overall and 3-2 in the Pac-12, but suffered a road loss to Washington the last time out.
Arizona has won every conference matchup by at least 15 points this season. Will the easy goings continue?
Check out our college basketball picks and predictions for the Arizona Wildcats and Stanford Cardinal on Thursday, January 20, to find out.
Arizona vs Stanford odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The line has moved half a point in Arizona’s direction since the opener, from -9 to -9.5. The total remains constant at the opener of 151.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.
Arizona vs Stanford predictions
Predictions made on 1/20/2022 at 7:50 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Arizona vs Stanford game info
• Location: Maples Pavilion, Stanford, CA
• Date: Thursday, January 20, 2022
• Tip-off: 11:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPNU
Arizona at Stanford betting preview
Injuries
Arizona: Kim Aiken Jr. F (Questionable), Jordan Mains F (Out).
Stanford: Maxime Reynaud F (Out).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings between these schools. Find more NCAA betting trends for Arizona vs. Stanford.
Arizona vs Stanford picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
Arizona has been quite the success story over the first half of the season for first-year head coach Tommy Lloyd. The Wildcats are ranked third in the nation and are undefeated in conference play, winning every Pac-12 matchup this far by at least 15 points.
One of only a handful of teams to be ranked within KenPom’s Top 15 on both offense and defense, Arizona has gotten it done on both sides of the floor. The offense has been the main storyline, averaging the second-most points in the NCAA at 88.5 per contest. The Wildcats have attacked the paint relentlessly and are shooting an outstanding 58.8% on 2-point attempts.
Stanford’s defense isn’t particularly adept at defending the paint, so the points should be had down low. A big issue for the Cardinal has been turning the ball over, where they rank 344th nationally in turnover rate. That simply won’t cut it against a Wildcats team looking to force turnovers and get out in transition offensively.
Arizona has star power in this matchup that Stanford can’t match. Benedict Mathurin leads the way with 18 points and 6.3 rebounds, while Azuolas Tubelis is fresh off a career night against Utah on Saturday with 32 points, eight boards, five assists, two steals, and a block. Kerr Kriisa has come into his own this season and will be the best guard on the floor.
Stanford sits at 3-2 in conference play. Freshman Harrison Ingram leads the way with 11.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. While he’s been a great story as the Pac-12’s best freshman this season, there’s simply too much on his shoulders to pull off the upset in this contest.
Arizona looks to continue its run as a championship contender, while Stanford is simply a middle-of-the-road team. Give us the Wildcats.
Prediction: Arizona -9.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
Arizona has been friendly to the Over, going 9-6 to the Over on the season. The offense has excelled at getting out in transition and finding good looks in the paint, shooting 49.9% on field goals. Stanford has a slightly below-average defense, surrendering 68.7 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot 43.7% on field goals — the 237th-ranked mark nationally.
Arizona plays at a blistering pace, ranking sixth nationally in tempo. Stanford is slightly below average in pace, averaging slightly over 70 possessions per game.
The Wildcats started the season cashing the Over at an alarming rate, but they’ve slowed down lately. They’re only 1-4 to the Over in the last 5 games, a sign that oddsmakers have caught on to this team’s style of play. The Wildcats are stifling defensively and hold teams to 36.8% shooting, the third-best mark in the country. We like this one to go Under the total.
Prediction: Under 151 (-110)
Best bet
Arizona appears to be onto something special this year, cruising past opponents en route to a Top-3 ranking.
It’s yet to be seen how the Wildcats will hold up as they start facing scheduling difficulties. This will be the first game of a three-game road trip. They’re rested, so we don’t see this as a spot where they should trip up.
After dominating the series for nearly a decade, the Wildcats will be eager to avenge last year’s two losses to the Cardinal.
Pick: Arizona -9.5 (-110)
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