Wyoming vs. Arizona Odds
| Wyoming Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+16 -110 | 150.5 -110o / -110u | +900 |
| Arizona Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-16 -110 | 150.5 -110o / -110u | -1600 |
While Arizona began the year unranked, it has looked the part of a team that can get to the Final Four. Arizona is off to a 7-0 start and up to No. 11 in the AP Poll.
The Wildcats have wins over Wichita State and Michigan at the Roman Main Event and began Pac-12 play with a dominant win over Oregon State. The Wildcats have won all but one of their games by at least 18 points this season.
The Wildcats will welcome Wyoming to the McKale Center before a road game at Illinois on Saturday.
The Cowboys are also undefeated and come in at 8-0. The Cowboys have a win over Arizona's Pac-12 foe, Washington, already this season and they won every other game by double digits.
Arizona won the last meeting 98-70 in 2004 and leads the all-time series 20-15. Arizona enters as a 15-point favorite. Will the Wildcats be up to the challenge or overlook Wyoming?
Wyoming Cowboys
After two disastrous seasons in which Wyoming went 17-48 and dismissed Allen Edwards, Linder stepped in and went 14-11 in year one.
Off to an 8-0 start in year two, Linder's squad has been playing at a high level on both ends of the floor. Wyoming is averaging 82 points per game, which looks even more impressive when you consider that it ranks 290th in adjusted tempo.
The Cowboys are seventh in offensive rating and 31st in scoring nationally. The 3-ball has been a large part of Wyoming's success this season. The Cowboys are shooting 38% — 44th nationally — from 3 as a team on 25 attempts per game.
Sharpshooter Drake Jeffries almost exclusively does his damage from deep, shooting 56% from 3 while adding 11.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Guard Xavier DuSell, guard Brendan Wenzel and forward Hunter Thompson are all shooting 38% or better on more than two attempts per game.
Forward Graham Ike is the team's leading scorer and rebounder at 20.8 points and nine rebounds per game. Guard Hunter Maldonado is averaging 18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. The duo will have a chance to contend for All-Mountain West honors if their current pace continues.
Wyoming is giving up just 59 points per game, which is 27th nationally. The Cowboys are 10th in field goal percentage defense and 19th in 3-point defense. Wyoming is 24th in defensive rating.
Arizona Wildcats
Lloyd became the first Arizona head coach to win his first Pac-12 road game with the win over Oregon State. The win was also significant because it was tied for the second largest margin by a coach in his first-ever Pac-12 road game in conference history.
The game was also on brand for how Arizona games have gone this season.
The Wildcats got out and ran, dominated inside and used their length to make things difficult on Oregon State. Arizona's average possession length is just 14.2 seconds, the third-fastest pace in the country. It ranks 10th in adjusted tempo overall.
Arizona leads the nation in scoring offense (91.3) and scoring margin (33.8). The Wildcats are one of three teams to have three players averaging 15 points per game.
Guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin leads the team with 16 points per game and is also averaging 6.1 rebounds. He was also named Pac-12 Player of the Week after scoring 29 points against Oregon State.
Forward Azuolas Zubelis is averaging 15.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on 62.5% shooting from the field. Center Christian Koloko is averaging 15.6 points and 7.3 rebounds on 66.7% shooting. Koloko is also the anchor of the Wildcats' defense and ranks 20th nationally in blocks.
The Wildcats rank second in field goal percentage defense, sixth in blocked shots per game, third in defensive rating and 10th in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Wyoming vs. Arizona Betting Pick
While Wyoming has gotten off to an impressive start, it has not faced a very difficult schedule. Five of the Cowboys' wins have come against teams that rank 200th or lower, according to KenPom.
That does not include Hastings College of the NAIA, so Arizona will be a big step up in competition from what Wyoming has faced thus far.
Wyoming will look to slow the game, limit possessions and has the 3-point shooting to make things interesting. However, Arizona ranks 26th in 3-point defense and has the length to make those attempts difficult. Wyoming will not be able to match Arizona's length and will not have an answer for Zubelis and Koloko.
Arizona has been able to dictate tempo all season. I expect that the Wildcats will get out and run at home. That could lead to turnovers and more possessions for Arizona.
I like Arizona to win comfortably at home.
