Pac-12 Tournament 2015: Updated Championship Odds and Predictions

Following four blowouts in the quarterfinals, the Pac-12 tournament really tightened up, as two semifinal contests were decided by a combined nine points.

The Arizona Wildcats continued their bid for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, knocking off UCLA 70-64 on Friday. Considering recent losses by ACC contenders Virginia and Duke, Arizona may be able to leapfrog one of those squads with a conference tournament victory.

Standing in the Wildcats' way are the Oregon Ducks. Riding a seven-game winning streak, the Ducks stunned Utah with a last-second three-pointer to give them a 67-64 win. Oregon has been on fire of late, and if any team stands to take down Arizona, it's Dana Altman's squad.

As we anxiously await the impending Pac-12 finale, let's take a look at the game's viewing information and updated championship odds and predict the winner.

Pac-12 Tournament Final

Who: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 2 Oregon

When: Saturday, March 14

Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada

Time: 11 p.m. ET

Channel: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Championship Odds (via Odds Shark): Arizona -10.5

Preview and Prediction

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A bad loss to Arizona State aside, the Wildcats have been lighting up opponents over the second half of the regular season and are currently riding a 10-game winning streak heading into Saturday's showdown against Oregon.

Friday's semifinal contest against UCLA featured a sluggish start from both teams, as the game was tied at 27 entering halftime. However, Arizona came out with guns blazing in the second half, putting up 43 points to secure its place in the final.

The Wildcats continue to get phenomenal play from their forwards, as Brandon Ashley posted a game-high 24 points against the Bruins, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson dominated the interior on the defensive end of the court, coming away with seven rebounds (12 total), two steals and two blocks. Stanley Johnson continued to display his versatility, knocking down shots from everywhere to finish with 15 points and nine rebounds.

One player who deserves plenty of credit for the success of the entire team is guard T.J. McConnell. He recorded the game's only double-double with 10 points and 11 assists, as he utilized good vision to facilitate on the offensive end of the court and in transition while keeping turnovers to a minimum.

Arizona's versatility, explosiveness and resilience are what's propelled it to become one of the nation's most dangerous squads, and all of its best attributes were on display in the semifinals. McConnell touched on the team's resilience during a press conference with The Associated Press, via ESPN.com.

"We were down 47-40, and we all just said we have to dig deep for this one, whatever heart you have, you have to give more," McConnell said. "And we went on a run, and our fans were behind us."

Needless to say, with that kind of momentum on Arizona's side, Oregon will have its hands full in the final.

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Although, the Ducks aren't to be taken lightly. After dropping 93 points on Colorado, Oregon was faced with the daunting task of taking on Utah's stingy defense in the semifinals. The Utes slowed the game down a bit in an effort to keep the high-octane Ducks in check; however, that didn't matter to guard Joseph Young.

Young put on a stellar 25-point effort, including hitting a shot from downtown to seal the game. He's always a consistent threat and is complemented nicely by forward Elgin Cook, who isn't the biggest player at 6'6" but utilizes his athleticism to score from the inside.

While Oregon's roster is chock-full of players such as Young and Cook who are extremely good shooters, it lacks sufficient size—Utah pulled down 36 rebounds to Oregon's 24 in the semifinals. That could prove to be devastating for the team's tournament hopes, as Arizona's roster features some very aggressive big men.

If the Ducks allow the Wildcats to significantly win on the inside, Arizona will be given too many second-chance opportunities, and Oregon, as high-powered as it is, won't be able to keep up.

Prediction: Arizona