Texas Southern vs. Arizona: Betting, March Madness Analysis, Pick

The second-seeded Arizona Wildcats begin their quest for a Final Four berth in Portland on Thursday against the Texas Southern Tigers after their attempt to win the West region as the top seed a year ago fell two points short in a 63-62 loss to the second-seeded Wisconsin Badgers in the Elite Eight.

The Wildcats are riding an 11-game winning streak into the NCAA tournament—going 9-2 against the spread down the stretch—and could have easily been a No. 1 seed again. They are picked by the Odds Shark computer to cover this big spread.

Opening Spread

The Wildcats opened as 22.5-point favorites.

Why to Pick Texas Southern to Cover the Spread

Like Arizona, the Tigers have won 11 games in a row heading into the Big Dance, but they have done so with a lot less fanfare playing in the small Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Just eight of their games were on the betting board this season, as they went 4-4 against the spread, including a 2-1 mark in the SWAC tournament.

Texas Southern appeared in the NCAA tournament last year, playing in the First Four and falling to Cal Poly 81-69 as a 3.5-point underdog. Though disappointing, that loss can only help this team better prepare for a tough task against the Wildcats this time.

The Tigers also got the opportunity to play four tourney teams early in the season, going 1-3 but highlighted by an upset of the Michigan State Spartans as 24.5-point road underdogs in a 71-64 overtime victory last December 20.

Why to Pick Arizona to Cover the Spread

Arizona is likely playing with a chip on its shoulder and feels like it has some unfinished business in the West region since Wisconsin had the same exact record this year but got the better seed.

The Wildcats are hoping to eventually turn the tables on the Badgers down the road, but until then, they need to be focused on taking care of business early on against Texas Southern.

Last year, they did not cover the 20-point spread in a 68-59 win over the 16th-seeded Weber State Wildcats in the round of 64 and also failed to beat the number as 7.5-point favorites in a 70-64 victory against the fourth-seeded San Diego State Aztecs in the Sweet 16.

Arizona did not mess around in easily winning the Pac-12 tournament, routing the second-seeded Oregon Ducks 80-52 as 12.5-point favorites in the championship game.

It just needs to continue playing with that intensity.

Smart Betting Pick

There is a reason many oddsmakers are favoring the Wildcats to make it to the Final Four this season as the second seed over top seed Wisconsin. They look to be an improved team this year, and bettors will see that right away when they play Texas Southern here.

Arizona has gone 13-3 ATS in its last 16 games as a favorite, covering four straight when favored by 20 or more points. The Tigers will be facing a motivated Wildcats team that will make it five in a row here.

Odds Shark Power Rankings

Texas Southern Tigers: No. 247

Arizona Wildcats: No. 1

March Madness Betting Trends

• Arizona ended the season on a 11-0 straight up and 9-2 ATS run.
• Texas Southern won 11 straight games to end the season.
• Arizona is 13-3 ATS in its past 16 games as a favorite.
• Arizona has covered four in a row when favored by 20 or more points.

All spread and betting line data powered by Odds Shark. Download the free Lines and Bet Tracker app in the Apple Store and on Google Play.