Pac-12 Tournament 2015: Bracket Seeds, Odds, Matchups and Predictions

Usually, the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas is the site for major combat sports events. Beginning on March 11, the Pac-12 postseason tournament will take over the venue.

The No. 5 Arizona Wildcats finished the season with eight straight wins in the conference as they coasted to the No. 1 seed in the Pac-12 tournament. Oddly enough, the Wildcats' only losses in the conference came against teams that aren't even among the top four seeds in the tournament.

Arizona lost on the road against the Arizona State Sun Devils and Oregon State Beavers. 

Can any team knock them off in Sin City? Here's a look at the bracket and odds for the opening-round games.

First-Round Matchups and Odds	Semifinals
No. 9 Washington State No. 8 California (-3.5)	No. 1 Arizona
No. 5 USC No. 12 Arizona State (-6.5)	No. 4 UCLA
No. 10 Colorado (-2.5) No. 7 Oregon State	No. 2 Oregon
No. 11 Washington No. 6 Stanford (Odds not available)	No. 3 Utah

Players to Watch

Stanley Johnson, Arizona Wildcats

USA TODAY Sports

The highly touted Metta World Peace clone (minus the antics) is one of the most promising prospects in the nation.

The freshman leads the conference's top seed in scoring at 13.9 points per game. He has also grabbed 6.6 rebounds per game. NBADraft.net's Rick Fois says Johnson "does not have a big vertical [leap] by any means, particularly off two feet, but being more than 240 pounds of muscles and strength makes him a nightmare for any offensive player trying to go by him."

Johnson could very well be wrapping up his college career. He has the look of a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft. 

If he turns the corner in the postseason the way many talented freshman do, his stock will only rise.

Joseph Young, Oregon Ducks

USA TODAY Sports

The conference's top scorer has been a handful for any team to slow down all season. Joseph Young has only been held below 10 points twice this season. 

According to Sam Vecenie of CBSSports.com, Young has been named the Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. In the Pac-12 tournament, the Ducks will go as far as Young can carry them.

Tyrone Wallace, California Golden Bears

USA TODAY Sports

The California Bears' guard is second in the Pac-12 in scoring, fifth in assists and pulls down 7.3 rebounds per game. He's one of the best players in the nation, but he doesn't get the attention he deserves because Cal has struggled mightily in the conference this season.

While the team's stay in the postseason tournament might be short, Wallace should put on a show during his opportunity.

Prediction

The two conference losses the Wildcats experienced during the regular season were aberrations. The defeats were by a combined three points, and both came on the road. On a neutral court in a city where Arizona fans figure to travel to in support of their team, the Wildcats should cruise to a postseason title.

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