11:00 p.m. ET – Arizona State at Arizona (-4.5) O/U:156
The 11-3 Wildcats host the in-state rival 4-7 Sun Devils on Monday night in Tucson. These two teams met last Thursday in Tempe, where Arizona prevailed with an 84-82 win. Arizona’s Azuolas Tubelis had the game-winning tip-in as time expired to lift the Wildcats. Bobby Hurley’s Sun Devils were a preseason Associated Press Top 25 team, but they have come unraveled and currently reside in last place of the conference standings. Arizona’s 11-3 start is a mirage considering they have been a favorite in 13 of its first 14 games, losing both games as underdogs comfortably. The two teams combine for a record against the spread of 7-18, making picking the winner against the spread difficult despite their win-loss records.
| Teams | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State | +4½ (-107) | +185 | O 155½ (-115) |
| Arizona | -4½ (-113) | -215 | U 155½ (-105) |
Remy Martin is what makes the Arizona State offense tick, as he averages 16.7 points per game to go along with 4.3 assists while shooting over 45 percent from the field. Arizona has a much more balanced attack, with five scorers averaging in double figures. The Wildcats leading scorer, guard James Akinjo, averages 14.2 points and 5.5 assists per game. Akinjo was the game’s leading scorer last Thursday with 24 points. Arizona leads the Pac-12 in scoring, averaging 80.29 points per game. But Arizona State is not far behind that high-scoring clip, averaging 76.36 points per outing.
With both teams being abysmal against the spread this season, the bet to target is on the Over-Under total for this game. Both teams rank in the top three of the conference in scoring while also ranking in the bottom in terms of points allowed. Arizona is giving up 68.64 points per game and Arizona State allows a staggering 77.64. That ranks as the second-worst scoring defense from a major conference behind only Boston College (78.2). So although the Over-Under of 156 is one of the higher totals this season in college basketball, it is more than warranted. Last Thursday both teams combined for 166 points. Expect some similar offensive fireworks with little defensive resistance this Monday night. Take the Over with confidence that it will hit.
The Pick: Over 155½
