NCAAB Odds, Pick for Washington State vs Arizona

The Washington State Cougars have been one of the biggest surprises in college basketball thus far. The Cougars have won seven straight games and will get a chance to sweep their season series against the Arizona Wildcats on Thursday evening.

As for the Wildcats, they have won six straight contests and remain undefeated at the McKale Memorial Center. The Wildcats are slotted to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but can't afford any slip-ups in the remainder of their Pac-12 schedule.

Despite their poor shooting from beyond the arc, the Cougars managed to defeat the Wildcats in their first matchup. However, if they hope to sweep the season series, they'll need to significantly improve their shooting.

The Wildcats have been formidable at home, where they haven't lost all season. So, a Washington State win on Thursday night would certainly be a statement to the college basketball world.

To make that statement, the Cougars must focus on their 3-point defense and 3-point shot making. They don't typically take many 3s, but have been efficient throughout the season.

On the other hand, the Wildcats have been poor at defending the perimeter and allow numerous 3s per game. The Cougars will need guard Myles Rice and forward Andrej Jakimovski to step up and exploit the Arizona's mediocre defense.

However, Washington State may struggle to score inside against Oumar Ballo and the Wildcats. I expect the Cougars to have some success on the offensive end thanks to their size, but their defense is a cause for concern. The Wildcats' success from 3 is also a point of concern, as it raises questions about the Cougars' ability to cover the number. This isn't the best spot for the Cougars, but I still expect their offense to show up.

Despite some slight inflation in the market, it's hard to deny the Wildcats' talent. They've been impressive all season, even with a couple of bad losses, and are among the top teams in college basketball.

The Wildcats are ranked in the top 11 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. With their strong offense, they should be able to overcome the Cougars' solid defense, especially since the Cougars have struggled defending against 3-pointers at times this season.

Point guard Kylan Boswell has been a key player for the Wildcats recently and has turned things around after a slow start to the year. When he's accompanied by Caleb Love in the backcourt, the Wildcats become nearly unstoppable on offense.

They're a physical team with size and excellent shooting, though their free-throw shooting can be inconsistent.

The Wildcats do a great job of preventing opponents from getting to the foul line, which makes up for any shortcomings in that department.

I believe Arizona has a good chance of winning at home against Washington State, primarily due to its strong offense.

Both teams struggled to shoot in their first matchup, but I predict an offensive showcase in Tucson on Thursday.

Pick: Over 150.5 (Play to 152)