Monday’s CBB betting market opened Baylor at -1.5 over Arizona, with an over/under of right around 151. Early betting action shaved that spread to -1.
Arizona-Baylor Betting Preview
The Big 12 offers up what should be a good game to watch and bet Monday night when Baylor and Arizona meet for the second time in a month, this time in Waco.
Both these teams look like they’re headed to the upcoming NCAA tournament and a game like this matters when it comes to seeding. And both teams are still playing for good seeding for the upcoming Big 12 tournament.
The Wildcats bounced the Bears in Tucson a month ago. Who do we like for our free college basketball betting pick?
The Wildcats lug a two-game losing skid into Monday night after falling at home to No. 6 Houston Saturday 62-58. Arizona, catching +2 as a home dog, led that game 30-25 at the half and 48-41 with nine minutes left. But the ‘Cats went cold and got out-scored from there 21-10 to take their second straight defeat.
Arizona shot just 37 percent from the floor Saturday and made just 5/23 from 3-point range.
Two games ago the Wildcats shot 41 percent from the field and lost at Kansas State 73-70. However, just prior to that Arizona had won six games in a row.
At 11-3 in conference play the Wildcats are tied with Texas Tech for second place in the Big 12, two games behind first-place Houston. So Arizona is trying to hang on to a top-four finish, which earns one a double-bye in the upcoming conference tournament. And at 17-8 overall the ‘Cats remain in the running for decent seeding in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
Meanwhile the Bears are riding the roller-coaster as of late, alternating wins and losses over the last month, including a 74-71 overtime victory over West Virginia Saturday. Baylor, favored at -8.5, led by nine points in the first half, then trailed by five in the second half. Eventually the Bears won it with nine free-throws in OT but they couldn’t cover that spread.
Baylor only shot 40 percent from the floor Saturday but held the Mountaineers to 40 percent, too.
Two games ago the Bears lost at Houston 76-65. But three games ago Baylor beat Central Florida 91-76. And they’ve been bouncing up and down like that for their last seven games.
At 8-6 in conference play the Bears trail Iowa State by two games in the battle for fourth place in the Big 12. And at 16-9 overall Baylor is still trying to lock down an NCAA tournament bid.
By the Numbers
Arizona is shooting 47 percent from the field this season, 31 percent from 3-point land but 77 percent from the free-throw line. The Wildcats are also holding opponents to 40 percent FG shooting while out-rebounding foes by a 37-29 per-game average. This while playing what ESPN ranks as the 8th-toughest schedule in the country.
Baylor is shooting 46/36/75 percent across the board, allowing opponents to shoot 44 percent from the floor and out-rebounding foes 34-30. This while playing ESPN’s No. 16 schedule.
Arizona-Baylor Recent History
The Wildcats took the first meeting this season between these new conference rivals 81-70 in Tucson back in January. Arizona popped out to a 42-19 lead at the half, eased home from there and covered at -5.5.
Also, that game sneaked over a total of 148.5 on three total garbage points in the final 20 seconds.
Totals Report
The overs are 14-11 in Wildcats games this season, which are averaging 151 total points.
The overs are 15-9 in Bears games this season, which are averaging 149 points.
