2/19 08:00 PM CBB (827) ARIZONA at (828) UTEP
FREE PICK: (828) UTEP +6
There’s no doubt about it. Arizona is a legit contender to be playing on the final weekend of the college basketball season. The Wildcats are the total package, they’re extremely well coached and it sure appears that they come to play in virtually every game, a mark of a potential championship caliber team.
Nevertheless, the Wildcats have a real test on their hands tonight. Arizona will play its first true road game of the season this evening, and getting past UTEP looks to me to be a very tough test for this powerhouse.
Arizona is going to have to avoid getting frustrated with the tempo and height they’re going to see tonight from the Miners. Tim Floyd can coach ‘em up with anyone and he’s going to do everything he can to prevent Sean Miller from turning this into a track meet.
I’m not a big history buff, but every now and then a trend just jumps off the page and cannot be ignored. That’s the case for me tonight as UTEP takes the court as a home underdog. The Miners aren’t in this role often, but when they are, look out. UTEP is 9-0-1 ATS getting points at home. The last time they failed in this role was in March of 2007. Obviously, that doesn’t mean the run can’t end tonight. But that’s not the type of streak I’d be anxious to play against.
I see a bit of value with the home side tonight. Arizona has been superb to date, and the Wildcats are a favorite with the betting public for good reason. But the oddsmakers are well aware of that, and it appears to me that they’ve inflated this line a bit to adjust for what figures to be plenty of action on the Arizona side.
It’s never easy to fire against a team in great form that’s the real deal. But that home dog stat is compelling and I believe the hosts are good enough to keep this very competitive. UTEP plus the points is the choice as the Friday free play.
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