The Cincinnati Bearcats take on the Arizona Wildcats in Tucson, Arizona. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.
Arizona is favored by 15.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -2200. The total is set at 151.5 points.
Here’s my Cincinnati vs. Arizona prediction and college basketball picks for January 21, 2026.
Cincinnati vs Arizona Prediction
My Pick: Arizona 1H ATS
My Cincinnati vs Arizona best bet is on the Wildcats to cover the first-half spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Cincinnati vs. Arizona Odds
| Cincinnati Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+15.5 -110 | 151.5 -110 / -110 | +1100 |
| Arizona Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-15.5 -110 | 151.5 -110 / -110 | -2200 |
- Cincinnati vs Arizona spread: Arizona -15.5
- Cincinnati vs Arizona over/under: 151.5 points
- Cincinnati vs Arizona moneyline: Cincinnati +1100, Arizona -2200
Cincinnati vs Arizona College Basketball Betting Preview
Cincinnati Basketball
Cincinnati has a big test on Wednesday as the nation’s top team — the Arizona Wildcats — awaits their arrival in Tucson.
Tommy Lloyd's Wildcats are one of three remaining undefeated teams, giving the Bearcats an opportunity to turn their luck around and make a potential statement for their NCAA Tournament resume.
Head coach Wes Miller has had a very up-and-down start to his fifth season at the helm, with the Bearcats winning just 10 of their first 18 contests.
While the Bearcats have started their Big 12 schedule with just a 2-3 record, Miller’s bunch has won consecutive games, one of which was a massive upset over the nation’s second-ranked team, Iowa State.
Its nine-point victory over the Cyclones this past Saturday marked the first time Cincinnati has beaten a top-two team at home since 1967.
Cincinnati now goes back on the road to Arizona for consecutive true road games against the Wildcats and then Arizona State.
Known for its defensive prowess, Cincinnati has been miserable on offense, ranking outside the top 180 nationally in offensive efficiency, per KenPom.
6-foot-11 senior forward Baba Miller leads the way for a Cincinnati offense that looks a little lost. The Spaniard is tallying over 13 points per game and has been a monster on the glass. Miller's 10.8 rebounds per contest rank seventh nationally.
The Bearcats' backcourt features Day Day Thomas, whose 13 points per contest make him the second most efficient player on Cincinnati’s offense. Alongside junior guard Sencire Harris, Cincinnati's backcourt has been far better on the defensive end of the floor.
Cincinnati ranks eighth nationally in defensive efficiency, per KenPom, and the Bearcats will certainly need a stout defensive effort to contain an extremely up-tempo Arizona offense.
Arizona Basketball
Upon losing star guard Caleb Love to the NBA, Tommy Lloyd arguably had the best offseason of any head coach in the country, landing some big-time recruits and adding a couple of notable players in the transfer portal.
Prior to the season starting, I placed a wager on Arizona to cut down the nets at +3500, seeing the massive potential of a team with both experience in its frontcourt and a young core featuring several NBA prospects.
In his fourth season at the helm, Lloyd added two of the top-12 recruits in the 2026 class in star freshman Koa Peat and Brayden Burries.
Peat, who's listed at 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, has been an unstoppable force on both ends of the floor. The freshman forward is posting just under 15 points per game, along with six rebounds. Peat is a bona fide stud — an elite NBA prospect projected by most scouts to be a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Koa is the engine of a Wildcats offense that's scoring over 90 points per game.
Meanwhile, Burries is the primary operator in a stellar up-tempo scheme that's led Arizona to winning its first 20 games of the season. The 6-foot-4 guard is averaging over 14 points per game and, like Peat, is also projected to be a first-round pick in the NBA draft.
Lloyd’s bunch also has another five-star freshman recruit in 6-foot-7 combo guard Dwayne Aristode, whose length and versatility add more firepower to this Wildcat offense.
While it's the Wildcats' offense stealing all the headlines — averaging over 90 points per contest throughout the first two months of the season — they're no slouch on the defensive end of the floor, either.
Lloyd’s frontcourt features some big bodies who've wreaked havoc under the basket.
Europeans Ivan Kharchenkov and 7-foot-2 forward Motiejus Krivas have been stellar in the paint, making it very difficult for opponents to score inside the lane.
Tobe Awaka has also been a vital asset on both ends of the floor, nearly averaging a double-double per game in just 20 minutes per game off the bench.
Lloyd’s defense also ranks inside the top-five in the country in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
From top to bottom, Arizona's roster is stacked.
Cincinnati vs. Arizona Betting Analysis
In order to hand Arizona its first loss of the season, it's going to take a spectacular performance on both ends of the floor.
While it's only a matter of time with a loaded Big 12 schedule, I think it's going to take a far better opponent up to the task, and I would be very surprised if it comes at the McKale Center.
The Wildcats have taken a slight step back in their last two games, with single-digit victories over cross-state rival Arizona State, followed by UCF. However, I'm not the slightest bit worried.
The Bearcats are coming off their biggest win of the season, but I think an adrenaline dump could be in store for Cincinnati as it begins a road trip in Tucson against the best team in the country.
Arizona has failed to cover the spread in consecutive games, and I think Wednesday's matchup with Cincinnati is a perfect get-right spot.
I expect the Bearcats to come out a little flat, while Lloyd’s bunch will be motivated to bounce back with a big offensive showcase.
My Pick: Arizona 1H ATS
