A heavyweight battle between top 5 unbeatens takes place early in the college basketball season when the No. 5 Arizona Wildcats and No. 3 Connecticut Huskies tangle. Both clubs are coming off their biggest games of the season with each knocking off a ranked foe over the weekend and improving to 4-0.
With their established history of success on the hardwood both programs are popular at the betting window. Nothing has changed in the early part of the new season. UConn snuck past No. 7 BYU on Saturday and in a battle of former Pac-12 leaders Arizona beat No. 15 UCLA.
Arizona at Connecticut Preview
Playing their first true road game of the season, the Arizona Wildcats visit UConn for a top 5 matchup on Wednesday, November 19. The game tips at 7 p.m. ET from Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT and can be seen on FS1.
Public Betting Odds Factors
- Arizona has a pair of wins over ranked opponents already this season, knocking off defending national champion No. 3 Florida, 93-87, in the season opener and beating No. 15 UCLA, 69-65, on Friday night earning a payout in each game. Those contests took place at neutral sites and the Cats get their first real road test in this matchup.
- Following their win over Florida the Wildcats won big twice at home beating Utah Tech and Northern Arizona by an average of more than 30 points giving them a chance to use a number of players while also keeping regular fresh for this stretch of games. They have plenty of depth with seven players averaging more than 20 minutes per game.
- The Huskies have been a dominant club at home winning 92.3 percent of their home games since 2022. They won their first three home games this season, though the opposition never had a chance. Because of their success UConn is likely overvalued on the college basketball betting line.
- UConn is an anomaly in today’s world of college sports. Alex Karaban is a four-year player in the program and is currently second on the team in scoring averaging 18.3 points while shooting 61.9 percent from the floor. Solo Ball is in his third year averaging the third-most points at 15.8. Veteran leadership within the program gives them a high level of comfort.
Arizona at Connecticut Predictions
- Arizona’s frontcourt had a tough time against UCLA with Motiejus Krivas (10), Koa Peat (7) and Tobe Awaka (8) combining for 25 points. Between them they average almost 35 points. UConn’s experienced, and large post players give them a better chance of winning if they can limit the trio.
- The Cats have weapons on the perimeter, though, making them difficult to defend. With his bigs having trouble scoring, Anthony Dell’Orso came up large against UCLA scoring a team-high 20 points making 4 of 7 3-pointers. He’s shooting 45 percent from distance this season.
- Arizona has held its last three opponents to 67 points or less and according to kenpom.com they are 12th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency. All three of those games played UNDER the total in college basketball odds.
- Following wins over New Haven, UMass Lowell and Columbia by an average of 38 points, the Huskies faced their stiffest test of the young season on Saturday. They rose to the occasion holding off No. 7 BYU. And has been the case for UConn over the previous three seasons when they won 92 games and two national titles, a balanced attack led the way.
- Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed Jr. and Silas Demary Jr. each scored 21 points on 22 of 33 shooting and the Huskies shot 57percent as a team against BYU. They average 91 points shooting nearly 56 percent from the floor and 40.2 percent from deep.
Arizona at Connecticut Betting Tips
- In their two biggest games of the season so far the Wildcats earned payouts against Florida and UCLA winning those games by a combined 10 points. They are 2-2 ATS and have cashed the UNDER in their last three outings.
- UConn failed to cover the closing 6.5-point spread in its 86-84 win over BYU falling to 1-3 against the line. The Huskies ended last season at 16-18-1 ATS. In three home games this year they allowed an average of less than 55 points, cashing the UNDER twice.
Arizona at Connecticut Head to Head and Key Stats
- The teams last played during the 2018 season with Arizona getting a second straight victory, 76-72, on the road.
- Four of the last six meetings have been decided by 4 points or less.
- The last three matchups have gone UNDER the closing total.
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