The top-ranked Arizona Wildcats take on their instate rival Arizona State Sun Devils in college basketball action tonight. The game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on FOX Sports 1. Currently the odds for the game have Arizona favored by a dozen in this one.
Arizona, ranked No. 1 still, is off to the best start in school history with their 17-0 record. That passes the previous number of 16-0 from the 1931-32 team. Arizona's defense and rebounding skills are the best overall reason they've got to this point in the year and if the Wildcats continue to play at a high level they'll continue to win.
The Wildcats allow opponents to score on 56 points per game and hit the glass hard at 39 boards per game. They also shoot the ball extremely well, connecting for 49 percent of their shots. Arizona State is coming off getting drilled by UCLA where they got worked on the boards. If the Sun Devils don't improve their rebounding in this game they'll have a similar fate. Arizona has won the rebounding battle all but one of their games this season and average almost 11 rebounds more than their opponents.
Arizona's front court is going to be a big factor in this game. They have a massive front line and freshman phenom Aaron Gordon is having a very successful season, averaging 12 points and eight rebounds per contest. The Wildcats have won all 11 games at home this year and have won five of six in the series, holding a rebounding advantage of 18 in the 2012-13 meetings with the Sun Devils.
Nick Johnson averages 16.3 points per game for Arizona while Jahii Carson pours in better than 18 points per game for the Sun Devils. This could be a special game and we believe Jermaine Marshall could be a big part of this contest. He's a transfer in from Penn State and has played in some physical games in the Big Ten, but the Nittany Lions have been very bad for most of his career. Now he's playing in big games.
But Arizona is just too tough at home. The Wildcats will hit the glass hard in this one and beat up Arizona State inside.
Free Pick: Arizona 76, Arizona State 61
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