UCF vs Arizona Prediction, Odds, Picks for College Basketball

It’s time to continue our college basketball odds series with UCF-Arizona prediction and pick. Learn how to watch UCF-Arizona.

Have the Arizona Wildcats figured things out? It sure looks that way. Other teams in college basketball they set a higher, more consistent standard than Arizona has this season, establishing themselves as Final Four contenders and Sweet 16 favorites. Arizona isn’t in that class of teams, at least not right now. However, Arizona is definitely headed in the right direction now, which could not be said three weeks ago. Before Christmas, Arizona was a team searching for itself, searching for an identity and a consistent way of playing.

Arizona was barely above .500 in mid-December. The Wildcats lost as they fell to West Virginia, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Duke and UCLA. Losing UCLA looks even worse considering how bad the Bruins are playing right now. What also made that loss look so bad was that Arizona led the Bruins by 13 in the second half and let the game slip away. When Arizona was losing, a familiar script was written: The team was too dependent on Caleb Love, who was playing well and hitting. When he wasn’t, the Wildcats struggled. Coach Tommy Lloyd had to build a team and an identity that wasn’t too tied to the success or failure of one player. Teams must be able to perform well even when one particular player is struggling. Arizona couldn’t figure out that piece of the puzzle…until its most recent trip to the Big 12.

The Wildcats looked like a completely different team in Cincinnati and West Virginia. Arizona really started to get into their opponents on the defensive end of the floor, holding both Cincy and VVU under 70 points and establishing a physical superiority. Arizona dramatically increased its intensity and toughness each game and began to fight for turnovers and possessions with a fire that had been missing in the first five weeks of the season. Energy and hunger returned to Arizona. Now the Cats will try to keep the train rolling with a home game against UCF.

Here’s UCF-Arizona College basketball oddscourtesy of FanDuel

College Basketball Odds: UCF-Arizona Odds

UCF: +13.5 (-102)

Moneiline: +760

Arizona: -13.5 (-120)

Moneilines: -1250

Over: 157.5 (-110)

Under: 157.5 (-110)

How to watch UCF vs. Arizona

Time: 10pm ET/7pm PT

TV: ESPN

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Why UCF will cover the spread/win

The Knights are getting 13.5 points against an Arizona team that won by just nine points at home against TCU not too long ago. UCF isn’t much different than TCU, so the idea that the Knights can stay within 14 points seems more than reasonable. Also consider the fact that UCF has a road win in a Big 12 game at Texas Tech. If the Knights can do that, they can at least be competitive with Arizona.

Why Arizona will cover the spread/win

The Wildcats are playing the way they were expected to play before the season started. The team we saw last week is a team ready to blow the doors off weaker opponents. UCF lost to Kansas by 51 a week ago and was fortunate to beat Colorado at home by one score earlier this week. UCF failed to cover the surge as a 6.5-point favorite in that game. UCF should not be trusted to cover the spread. Arizona should.

Final Prediction and Pick UCF-Arizona

We think Arizona wins by 20. Let’s take Arizona.

Final forecast and selection UCF-Arizona: Arizona -13.5