Arizona vs. Colorado Betting Odds – Where to Bet Online
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ARIZONA WILDCATS (24-2) at COLORADO BUFFALOES (20-7)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Arizona -4.5
No. 4 Arizona looks to inch closer to a Pac-12 regular season title when it travels to Boulder on Saturday night to take on a talented Colorado team.
The Wildcats (15-10 ATS overall, 6-7 ATS in Pac-12, 5-3 ATS on road) will look to sweep the season series after a 69-57 win over the Buffaloes (15-11 ATS overall, 7-7 ATS in Pac-12, 10-6 ATS at home) on Jan. 23 in Tucson. SG Nick Johnson led the Wildcats with 18 points in that victory, while Brandon Ashley finished with 15. However, Ashley is currently out for the rest of the season due to a foot injury. SF Xavier Johnson led Colorado with 21 points, while connecting on 4-of-5 three-pointers. The defense of the Wildcats proved to be the difference in the game, holding the Buffaloes to just 39% FG while forcing 16 turnovers. They did a great job of making Colorado play a more one-on-one style of basketball, as the Buffaloes finished with just six assists on its 20 field goals. PG Spencer Dinwiddie is out for the season with a torn ACL for Colorado, and was the guy that could get other Buffaloes shots. Arizona has a 5-3 SU advantage (4-4 ATS) in this series since 2009, but has lost both of its trips to Boulder during this timeframe, including a 71-58 blowout defeat last February.
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Arizona ranks 131st in the nation in scoring at 72.8 PPG, but shoots a solid 46.4% FG (69th in Div. I) with 14.8 APG (52dn in nation). The Wildcats are shooting 35 % from the 3-point line, but they do not attempt a lot of them. However, the Arizona defense is what has this team competing for a national title, ranking fifth in the nation in scoring defense (57.7 PPG allowed) and sixth in FG Pct. defense (38.1%). The Wildcats are coming off a 67-63 overtime victory at Utah in its most recent outing on Wednesday. PF Aaron Gordon (11.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG) had one of his toughest games as a college basketball player that night, finishing with three points, three rebounds and five turnovers in 20 minutes of action before fouling out. While he struggled in that game, he is still one of the most athletic power forwards in college basketball, and a big reason why the Arizona ranks 21st in the nation in rebounding (39.1 RPG).
Junior SG Nick Johnson (15.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.5 APG) has improved as an elite guard in the country, and can be downright devastating in the transition. He has always been a terrific defensive player, but the improvement on the offensive end has been a big reason why the Wildcats are title contenders. However, he is in a major shooting slump over his past five games, making only 27% FG and 2-of-20 threes. Another vital part of Arizona’s team is PG T.J. McConnell (8.0 PPG, 5.4 APG, 4.0 RPG). While his numbers are not off the charts, McConnell has given the Wildcats a true point guard, something they did not have last season. The talented athletes on the floor allow him to play the brand of basketball he is most comfortable with, and he doesn't make many mistakes, as evidenced by his 2.7 Ast/TO ratio. SG Gabe York (6.9 PPG, 40% threes) is the best shooter on the team, and is being counted upon more as a shooter after Brandon Ashley went down with an injury.
A knock on Arizona is because it doesn't have an explosive offense, it is hard for them to blow out its opponents. The Wildcats have gotten off to bad starts in their past two road games, and can ill-afford another one against a Colorado team that is finding its groove while adjusting to basketball without Spencer Dinwiddie.
The Buffaloes come into this game playing their best basketball of the season, going 5-1 SU (4-2 ATS) so far this month, defeating Arizona State 61-52 in their most recent game on Wednesday. When Dinwiddie was lost for the season, there were many people that thought the Buffaloes were done for. One player that has performed very well in Dinwiddie’s absence is junior PG Askia Booker (14.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.4 APG).
Booker has shown the ability to hit the big shot, as he hit a 30-footer at the buzzer to beat No. 7 Kansas early in the season. Booker has also been on fire this month with 19.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 6.7 APG in the six games. While he has been inconsistent from deep this season (31% threes), Booker is the type of guy that can hit three or four long-range tries in a hurry. However, he is at his best when he is slashing and getting to the basket. Teaming him with sophomore PF Josh Scott (14.4 PPG, 8.7 RPG) gives the Buffaloes a talented inside-outside duo. Scott is one of the most improved players in the Pac-12, emerging as a big-time post presence with 11 doubles-doubles, including 13 points and 13 boards in Wednesday's victory. SF Xavier Johnson (12.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG) is another player that can put up a lot of points in a hurry, as his 21 points versus Arizona last month started a run of eight straight games with 11+ points (17.0 PPG).
The Buffaloes have been rebounding the ball well this season, ranking 37th in the nation with 38.3 RPG. They also rank 101st in scoring (74.0 PPG) on 44.9% FG (143rd in Div. I). The loss of Dinwiddie has really shown when it comes to assists, where Colorado ranks 208th in the country with 12.4 APG. The Buffaloes easily won the matchup in Boulder last season, and have one of the most underrated crowds in the country. Expect the Coors Events Center to be rocking as the Buffaloes look to potentially punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
