The Arizona Wildcats take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown, WV. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Arizona is favored by 3 points on the spread with a moneyline of -180. The total is set at 143.5 points.
Here are my Arizona vs. West Virginia predictions and college basketball picks for January 7, 2025.
Arizona vs West Virginia Prediction
My Pick: Arizona -2.5 (Play to -3)
My Arizona vs West Virginia best bet is on the Wildcats spread, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Arizona vs West Virginia Odds
| Arizona Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4 -105 | 143.5 -112 / -108 | -180 |
| West Virginia Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4 -115 | 143.5 -112 / -108 | +150 |
- Arizona vs West Virginia spread: Arizona -4
- Arizona vs West Virginia over/under: 143.5 points
- Arizona vs West Virginia moneyline: Arizona -180, West Virginia +150
- Arizona vs West Virginia best bet: Arizona -2.5 (Play to -3)
My Arizona vs West Virginia College Basketball Betting Preview
This is just another night in the Big 12, with Arizona taking to the road to Morgantown to face a West Virginia team that continues to surprise.
At the beginning of the season, you would've expected Arizona to be the ranked team in this matchup, but it's instead the Mountaineers.
Both groups are off to a 2-0 start in Big 12 play, so the winner will move to 3-0 and remain atop the standings.
What's unique about this game is the fact that these two teams already met in November as part of the Battle 4 Atlantis. That field was created before Arizona joined the Big 12, so that contest was a non-conference game and had no bearing on the conference standings.
West Virginia won that one 83-76 in overtime. Will the Mountaineers get another victory or will the Wildcats exact some revenge?
Well, Arizona got a massive victory on Saturday at Cincinnati to remain perfect in its first year in the Big 12.
The Wildcats struggled in November and December, but it looks like they may now be onto something.
Tommy Lloyd's team understands it needs to have a strong showing in the Big 12 to make up for the lack of early wins, and it now appears poised to do that.
Despite the five losses, the Wildcats reside inside the top 20 in KenPom's offensive efficiency rankings, but turnovers have plagued them at key moments.
Caleb Love is somehow back for another year, and just as it's been the case throughout his career, the veteran can run hot and cold.
Lloyd also went to the transfer portal to bring in guys like Tobe Awaka and Trey Townsend, who can be difference-makers on the interior.
Townsend was unbelievable for Oakland in the NCAA Tournament a year ago but has struggled to carve out a consistent role in Tucson thus far.
Once all these talented pieces start gelling together, the Wildcats can emerge as a contender to go on a deep run in March.
Meanwhile, West Virginia is a very solid team defensively, so this will be another good test of whether or not the Wildcats have taken strides on the offensive end.
Love taking care of the ball will also be key in this matchup against a defense that tries to get up in passing lanes.
If Zona limits the turnovers, it should be able to get quality looks in the half-court which should yield plenty of points.
West Virginia is on the short list of biggest surprise teams of the season thus far.
Darian DeVries has done a phenomenal job in his first season, which shouldn't be a big surprise given the amount of success he had at Drake.
He brought his son with him, but Tucker has missed the last stretch of games due to injury.
Oklahoma State transfer Javon Small has stepped up in a big way in his absence, and Small has actually scored in double figures in every single game this season.
The Mountaineers rank fourth nationally in defensive field goal percentage per KenPom, a sign of an extremely disciplined team that makes opponents earn it on every trip down the court.
If there's a game where the absences of Tucker DeVries and Amani Hansberry would catch up with WVU, it feels like it would be this one given the depth of the Wildcats.
In the win over Arizona in November, those two combined for 39 points and 14 rebounds.
It's also difficult to beat a team twice, but West Virginia will be shooting in its building, which always helps.
I think Arizona has turned a corner in recent weeks, and I'm betting on the Wildcats to keep that momentum going.
With this number currently sitting at two, the spread likely comes down to who wins the game.
Morgantown is a difficult place to play, but Arizona is no stranger to hostile road environments.
Zona has the more talented roster, and West Virginia feels like it's at the peak of its market value right now.
Give me the Wildcats to get off to a hot start in this one and take control of the basketball game. WVU will go on a run, but it won't be enough.
Arizona wins and covers on the road, avenging its early-season loss to West Virginia.
