Game Time: 9:00 PM  ET, Monday, February 21st, 2022

Venue: Pauley Pavilion, Westwood, Los Angeles, California

Where to Watch:  FS1

 

DraftKings Sportsbook:  UCLA -14.5; O/U 133

Caesars:  Spread: 

VegasInsider:  Spread: UCLA -16; O/U 133

WynnBet: Spread: 

ASU: 6-9 in conference, 10-15 overall

UCLA: 11-4 in conference, 19-5 overall

The Pac-12 is boiling down to a very tough group of teams that will battle for the conference title and make waves in the NCAA tournament.  Pac-12 has been regularly contributing UCLA, Arizona, Oregon, and USC to March Madness and this year will be no different.  These teams are loaded and experienced.  Arizona State is not on that track.  The Sun Devils have been hemorrhaging all season.  More losses than wins.. Both conference and overall is not a successful season.  UCLA has been mowing down opponents with only a few blips against the toughest of matchups.  The hope in Westwood is that tournament time will coincide with health across the roster.  NBA scouts regularly set up shop in Pauley Pavillion to watch Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez Jr.  The league has nearly learned their lesson not to let Bruins fall through the cracks… especially considering the success of wing scorers like Aaron Afflalo, Norman Powell, the Holiday brothers and many more after getting drafted late in the 1st round if not in the second.  There is a trick that bettors should pay attention to in this game though… The last time these teams faced off was February 5th…. And Arizona State won in overtime. It was part of a tumble UCLA took in the standings as they had too many quality players on the injury list.

Arizona State has won 4 of their last ten games.  During that stretch they went 7-3 ATS.  So they may not rack up wins, but they do play tough.   The weird thing about Arizona State is they simply have two identities.  They lose games, yet among the four wins over the last ten games are wins over the Oregon Ducks and the UCLA Bruins.  A part of the DNA of this team is rising to the occasion of a better team.  No particular stat for Arizona State jumps off the page.  Their leading scorer DJ Horne leads them with only 12.5 ppg.  Leading rebounder Kimani Lawrence only leads them with 6.8 rpg… nationally they rank 177th on defense which is par for average in Division 1 basketball.  The only thing that could explain the big wins among many losses and the innate ability to cover spreads… is good coaching and teamwork.  They don’t have the best talent in the conference but at times they can dig deep and make something happen.

UCLA has won 7 of their last ten games. During that stretch they went 7-3 ATS.  The Bruins do have stats that jump off the page… like 11th in AST/TO ratio thanks to Tyger Campbell running a tight ship… or maybe leading scorer Johnny Juzang at 18 ppg, 5 rpg, and 2 apg.  Johnny is NBA bound… he is a big guard, that plays so raw anyone who has ever coached can see his upside is nearly limitless. Johnny is from Tarzana California in the shadow of Los Angeles and his body and his approach to the game screams Kobe Lite… if he has Kobe’s work ethic he could become something very special in the NBA.  (few people have ever had Kobe’s work ethic). 

SCORCHING-HOT! Al McMordie cashed AGAIN last night with the Hurricanes, and that followed up Big Al's HUGE PAC-12 GAME OF THE YEAR WINNER on Oregon State +24.5 over Arizona. If you enjoyed that WIRE-TO-WIRE WINNER, then don't miss Big Al's Atlantic Sun Game of the Year. It will be another rocking chair winner!  Get Big Al’s pick!!  It's available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. All your NCAA basketball needs for the entire college basketball season!  All your needs in any sport for that matter! 

ASU: 10-15 on the season, but 12-12-1 ATS.  They have logged 8 Overs and 17 Unders.  They are 3-6 in road games.

UCLA: 19-5 on the season, but 12-11-1 ATS.  They have notched 11 Overs and 13 Unders.  They are a dominant 12-1 in home games

ASU is 314th in scoring with 65 ppg, 170th in rebounds with 32.4 per game, and 135th in AST/TO ratio with 1.1.  They are a poor shooting team.  On defense they rank 177th while allowing 68.8 ppg from opponents.

Our prediction for Monday, February 21st is…  UCLA 80 - ASU 66

UCLA will not take ASU lightly and will be out to avenge their only home loss of the season.  The offense will push and the defense will press.  The Bruins are distinctly aware that these guys caught them napping last time.  The beating will be savage.  However the spread is TOO BIG 14.5 - 16 depending on which site you bet on!  The bet is ASU (take all those points!!).... and the OVER.   The spread is simply a beyond basketball number.  If you want to be responsible you could just bet the OVER.

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UCLA is 6 Over and 0 Under in home games when playing a team with a losing record last 2 seasons.
UCLA is 100-68 ATS off a home win against a conference rival since 1997.
Arizona is 8 Over and 0 Under in road games after holding a team to 60 pts or less since 1997.

ASU:  F Marcus Bagley (knee) Out indefinitely ** G J. Rochelin (ill) Out ** 

UCLA: G Johnny Juzang (hip) Quest ** F Cody Riley (undisclosed) Quest

ASU: DJ Horne, Jalen Graham, Kimani Lawrence, Jay Heath, Alonzo Gaffney

UCLA: Jaylen Clark, Jules Bernard, Tyger Campbell, Myles Johnson, Jaime Jaquez Jr

ASU

Points: DJ Horne 12.5

Assists: Marreon Jackson 3.9

Rebounds: Kimani Lawrence 6.8

Steals: Marreon Jackson 1.4

Blocks: Alonzo Gaffney 1.5

UCLA

Points: Johnny Juzang 17.9

Assists: Tyger Campbell 4.4

Rebounds: Myles Johnson 6.0

Steals: Tyger Campbell 1.2

Blocks: Myles Johnson 1.4

ASU: Bobby Hurley

UCLA: Mick Cronin