The LIU Sharks play the Arizona Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA Tournament from San Diego, California. Tip-off is set for 1:35 p.m. ET on TNT.
Arizona is favored by 30.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -10000. Meanwhile, LIU is the underdog at +30.5 with a moneyline of +8000. The total is set at 150.5 points.
Here’s my LIU vs. Arizona prediction and college basketball picks for March 20, 2026.
LIU vs Arizona Prediction
My Pick: Arizona -30.5 (Play to -32)
My LIU vs Arizona best bet is on the Wildcats to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
LIU vs Arizona Odds
| LIU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+30.5 -108 | 150.5 -112o / -108u | +8000 |
| Arizona Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-30.5 -112 | 150.5 -112o / -108u | -10000 |
- LIU vs Arizona spread: Arizona -30.5
- LIU vs Arizona over/under: 150.5 points
- LIU vs Arizona moneyline: LIU +8000, Arizona -10000
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LIU vs Arizona College Basketball Betting Preview
LIU Basketball
After a dominant run in the NEC, Long Island is back in the NCAA Tournament.
The reward? A date with a one seed that lost just two games all season — the Arizona Wildcats.
Long Island met three high-major teams during the non-conference slate and had mixed results. The Sharks lost to Notre Dame by 22, Illinois by 40 and Mississippi State by four. Illinois is the only team near Arizona's level, and it broke LIU's pressure with ease and shot 70% on 2s.
Rod Strickland’s squad is super talented for a 16 seed, as he has a trio of scorers who could play at higher levels. Malachi Davis is the go-to creator for the Sharks, and he's averaging 14.4 points and leads the team with 3.4 assists per game.
Also, keep an eye on Jamal Fuller and Greg Gordon. Fuller led the Sharks with 16.2 points per game and shot an impressive 43% from deep. Gordon is a bit unique. He’s a high-flying athlete, which allows him to slide down to the four despite standing at just 6-foot-5.
The Sharks force turnovers 18% of the time, and they look to pressure since they have athleticism and less overall length. That'll be even more of an emphasis since Long Island has to face a much taller Arizona team.
On the flip side, if LIU gets loose with the ball, it can ruin its chances of competing. The Sharks turn the ball over 19% of the time and rank 239th in offensive efficiency.
The one thing Long Island was able to do with ease in league play was pounding the offensive glass, ranking 63rd with a 34% offensive rebound rate.
I don't know how LIU will score in this one. If it can't get offensive rebounds, it'll have to shoot more 3s than usual (29% rate) or somehow shoot better than 52% from 2.
Arizona Basketball
Arizona specialized in beating mid-majors to a pulp in non-conference play. The Wildcats beat Utah Tech by 26, Denver by 30, Norfolk State by 37, Abilene Christian by 34, Bethune-Cookman by 36 and South Dakota State by 28.
High-major teams with athleticism and size can dominate at the rim and just suffocate these smaller teams.
The Wildcats are one of the biggest teams in the country, ranking eighth in average height, per KenPom. Starting center Mo Krivas is 7-foot-2 and ranks 48th in offensive rebound rate. His backup is Tobe Awaka, a 6-foot-8, 245-pound big man whose build is reminiscent of a linebacker, and he leads the sport in offensive rebound rate.
The team grabs offensive rebounds 38% of the time, which is a top-10 mark in college basketball.
Arizona will disrupt anything Long Island wants to do. The Wildcats rank third in defensive efficiency, holding teams to 43% shooting on 2s and 31% from deep. Plus, they rarely foul and give up offensive rebounds 26% of the time.
On the offensive end, the Wildcats are unique. They attempt 3s just 26% of the time, one of the lowest rates in the country. Brayden Burries is a sniper, as is Anthony Dell'Orso, but nobody else shoots it much from deep.
Despite the lack of shooting, they rank sixth in offensive efficiency by getting good looks, crashing the glass and drawing fouls.
LIU vs Arizona Pick, Betting Analysis
The line is Arizona -30.5, which seems large and is, but it's for a good reason.
The Wildcats are one of the few teams who can put their foot on the gas tempo-wise, while also dominating inside.
I just can't see Long Island getting many stops, and if it does, Arizona will grab offensive boards.
The only path for Long Island to keep the game close is forcing 20+ turnovers and praying Arizona loses its poise and fouls a bunch.
That's it.
Back the Cats.
My Pick: Arizona -30.5 (Play to -32)
