College Basketball Betting: UCLA Bruins Vs. Arizona Wildcats, Jan. 15, 2009

UCLA vs. Arizona Betting Preview

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Here’s Fairway’s Pac-10 preview from Pauley Pavilion tonight, and you can watch the action on Fox Sports Net.

Line a bit much (-11) for me to support UCLA, but I want nothing to do with Arizona on the road. I saw Arizona play here in Las Vegas against UNLV, and inconsistent play by the Wildcats, along with under-performance on the road, is a concern under first year coach Russ Pennell.

So is Arizona’s limited depth and 21 percent shooting from the arc in conference play, and now facing the Bruins' strong perimeter players, who lead the way for UCLA’s league best 7.3 steals per game and top turnover margin. UCLA has a big showdown with Arizona State on Saturday, but the Bruins should still claw the Wildcats.

Arizona travels to LA and Pauley Pavilion to take on No. 9 UCLA in the final game of the night Thursday.

UCLA (13-2, 3-0) comes off an intense defensive game and 64-60 victory over crosstown rival USC last Sunday, and the defending Pac-10 champions have opened conference play with three straight road wins. The Bruins have beaten Arizona seven straight times, and another win is likely with the Wildcats' struggles on the road.

Arizona (11-5, 2-2) has yet to win away from home, with three of their four road losses by 14 or more points. Arizona coach Russ Pennell put the Wildcats through some intense practices following a lackluster effort at Stanford Jan. 4. A similar lack of will to win surfaced at UNLV and California in defeat. The Wildcats will run some zone traps and press at times, but a lack of depth is a concern.

Chase Budinger overcame some recent shooting struggles to score 44 points in the Wildcats' recent two games against the weaker Oregon schools. Freshman guard Kyle Fogg has been a pleasant surprise and now starts. He provides a good ball defender to help Nic Wise on the perimeter along with Arizona’s strength inside with Jordan Hill.

Jamelle Horn has provided improved play on the interior, but UCLA has a way of wearing down opponents.

The UCLA Bruins possess one of the nation's premier point guards in Darren Collison. The senior’s invaluable experience, floor presence, and ability to pass and score make all the players around him much better. Collison is hitting 57 percent of his shots this season while dishing out over 5.5 assists per game and providing great on the ball pressure defense.

Freshman guard Jrue Holiday is playing with great poise and promise and is way ahead of the curve for a freshman, according to coach Ben Howland. Josh Shipp continues to provide veteran leadership and proven production, while Alfred Aboya is the Bruins' key player in the paint.

Nikola Dragovic earned his first career start against USC and responded with 14 points. The 6'9" swingman plays like a perimeter player but can guard the opponent's forwards inside. Michael Roll has made over 55 percent of his shots coming off the bench, and UCLA is the Pac-10’s top shooting team from the three-point line (45 percent), while Arizona is last in the league shooting from the arc (21 percent) in conference play.

Arizona is not a team to trust playing on the road, and the Wildcats are ninth in turnovers and assist/turnover ratio in conference play. That doesn’t sound like a formula for success facing the Bruins' pressure defense and a team that limits easy transition baskets. UCLA’s bigger challenge will come Saturday against Arizona State, but the Bruins should power their way past Arizona at Pauley Pavilion tonight