The Arizona State Sun Devils and UCLA Bruins renew their former Pac-12 rivalry in a non-conference game on Wednesday night. This contest carries importance for both teams early in the college basketball season. Arizona State arrives with a 9-2 record, with one of the better offensive units in the nation. UCLA seeks to rebound from a recent setback and defend its perfect home record. Before tip-off from the legendary Pauley Pavilion, you can find my Arizona State vs UCLA prediction below.
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UCLA enters this game at 7-3 on the season and undefeated in home games, with a 6-0 record at Pauley Pavilion so far. The Bruins have shown elite defensive capabilities, ranking near the top of the Big Ten in limiting opponent scoring and field goal efficiency. Their recent loss to Gonzaga saw senior Tyler Bilodeau light up the Bulldogs for 24 points. UCLA’s ability to defend at a high level at home will be a key factor in this matchup.
Arizona State has been a surprise early in the season, sitting at 9-2 with one true road game under its belt. The Sun Devils shoot the three ball at a high clip, ranking among leaders nationally in three-point accuracy, which can offset some of UCLA’s defensive strengths. Maurice Odum leads the ASU offense, averaging close to 17 points and over 6 assists per game. The depth around him has been productive as well, with Arizona State winning three straight games coming into this matchup.
These programs are highly familiar with one another due to their previous affiliations with the Pac-12. Arizona State has since moved onto the Big 12, while UCLA is now a member of the Big Ten. UCLA is 35-14 all-time against Arizona State, and the Bruins have won the last five games between these programs. This is the first time that these teams have played after their separations from the Pac-12.
Score Projection: Arizona State 80 – UCLA 84
Win Probability: Arizona State 32%, UCLA 68%
I wish that Bill Walton was here to call this game and to wax poetic about the Conference of Champions for just one more night. But I think we are in for a very good game between these former conference rivals. Arizona State's offense is explosive enough to hang around here, and I recommend taking the points with Arizona State in what should be a fun contest to watch from Pauley Pavilion.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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