Arizona Wildcats at Arizona St Sun Devils, Wells Fargo Arena, Tempe, AZ
Sunday, February 13, 2011, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: Fox Sports Net
Opening Line: Arizona -5
Current Line: Arizona -4 1/2
Opening Total: 135 1/2
Current Total: 135
Money Line: Arizona -200 / Arizona St +170
Arizona hosted their in-state rivals on January 15 and won 80-69. since then the two teams have gone in opposite directions. Arizona is 8-1 in their last 9 games, with the only loss coming at Washington 85-68. The Wildcats are on a 5 game winning streak since that loss, including a 107-105 triple overtime victory at Cal last Saturday. The loss to Arizona started a seven game losing streak for Arizona St, including an 83-75 loss at Stanford last Saturday. Arizona is 20-4 overall and alone in first place in the Pac-10 with a 9-2 record. They are ranked #15 in the AP poll and 16 in the ESPN poll. The Wildcats have losses to Kansas, BYU, and Oregon St in addition to the loss to Washington. Arizona has wins over Oklahoma, NC State, Oregon, Cal twice, Stanford twice, Washington St, UCLA and USC. Arizona St is 9-15 overall and a woeful 1-10 in the Pac-10. They have wins over Nevada, Long Beach St, Oregon and Tulsa. The Sun Devils have losses to New Mexico, St. John’s, Baylor, Richmond, Oregon St, Cal twice, Stanford twice, Washington St, Washington,USC, and UCLA on the season.
Arizona leads the overall series 140-79, including 61-50 in Tempe. Arizona has won 26 of the last 33 meetings in the series. However, Arizona St is 4-2 both straight-up and ATS in the last 6. Four of those six have gone over the total. Arizona St is 0-4 at home in conference games, the last 3 by a total of 7 points. Arizona St has not beaten Arizona when the Wildcats are ranked since 2002.
Arizona is healthy right now with no injuries. They are led by sophomore forward Derrick Williams. He leads the Wildcats in almost every statistical category except assists. He is averaging 19.5 points a game, 8.1 rebounds, 1 assists, and 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks a game. Though he doesn’t shoot a lot of 3-pointers he has hit 25 out of 36 from beyond the arc, or a 69.4% success rate. Guard Lamont Jones averages 9.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists a game. Forward Solomon Hill averages 8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.9 steals a game. Guard Kyle Fogg is averaging 7.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists to lead the team and 0.9 steals a game. Arizona is outscoring opponents 79-67 this season. The Wildcats are shooting 48.4% from the field and 40.8% from 3-point range. Arizona holds opponents to 42.9% shooting from the field. The ‘Cats make 74% of their free throws. Arizona averages 35.3 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +5.1. Arizona averages 14.6 assists and 13.7 turnovers a game. They force 13.1 turnovers a game on defense. Arizona averages 2.6 blocks and 5.3 steals a game.
Arizona St sophomore guard Ty Abbott is listed as probable against Arizona. Abbott injured his back in the Sun Devils last game against Stanford. He is the Sun Devil’s second leading scorer with 13.1 points, and also averages 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1 steal a game. Sophomore guard Trent Lockett is the leading scorer for the Sun Devils. He averages 14 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists a game. Senior guard/forward Rihards Kuksiks is averaging 9.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists a game. Freshman forward Kyle Cain leads the team in rebounds with 5.7 a game. Senior point guard Jamelle McMillan leads the team in assists with 3.9 a game and steals with 1.5 a game. Arizona St is being outscored 67-64 on the season. The Sun Devils are shooting 42.7% from the field and 34.7% from 3-point range. ASU opponents are shooting 43% from the field. ASU only makes 64.2% of their free throws. They average 31.9 rebounds and have a rebounding margin of -3.7. The Sun Devils average 14.8 assists and 11.9 turnovers a game. They force 12.8 turnovers a game on defense. ASU averages 6 steals and 3.5 blocks.
I don’t understand the line for this game at all. Arizona is #15 in the country and has won 5 straight. They are playing a team on a 7 game losing streak. Arch rival or not, 5 points is a bargain. Yes, it is on the road, but Arizona should win this game handily. Take Arizona and lay the points.
Our College basketball handicappers are red hot in 2011. Don’t miss out on any more winners this season.
