Arizona vs USC Basketball Prediction, Odds & Picks

Last Update: Thu Mar 02, 2023, 7:01 pm ET

Read Time: 4 minutes

Arizona vs USC Basketball Prediction, Odds & Picks cover

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UCLA has already wrapped up the Pac-12 regular season title, but second spot is still up for grabs between Arizona and USC, who are set to face off tonight at the Galen Center (11:00 pm ET, ESPN).

The #8 Wildcats (24-5, 13-5 Pac-12) will be returning to action after Saturday's stunning home loss to Arizona State, and they will be looking to lock up the #2 seed in next week's Pac-12 tournament with a win.

The Trojans (21-8, 13-5 Pac-12), meanwhile, will be looking to pick up their fifth straight win and grab sole possession of second ahead of Saturday's regular season finale against the Sun Devils.

Who will take the win tonight in Los Angeles? Read on for our Arizona vs USC basketball prediction, as well as our picks and analysis for this matchup.

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Arizona vs USC Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Thursday, March 2, 2023, at 6:55 pm ET.

Spread

Arizona -2.5 (-105)
USC +2.5 (-115)

Over/Under

Over 155.5 (-104)
Under 155.5 (-118)

Moneyline

Arizona -140
USC +116

Will Ellis and the Trojans Continue to Excel at Home?

Arizona has yet to lose consecutive games this season, but that trend may come to an end tonight in L.A.

The Pac-12 may be light on March Madness teams, but that doesn't diminish how good the Trojans have been at home.

In conference play, USC is a perfect 8-0 SU, and they have covered the spread in six of the eight wins. On December 4, they failed to cover as a 14-point favorite in a 63-62 win over Oregon State, and they also failed to cover as a 9.5-point favorite in an 80-74 win over Washington on February 4.

Five of USC's eight home wins in conference play have come by double digits, including a 13-point win over UCLA on January 26.

The Trojans also appear to be peaking at the business end of the season, with four consecutive double-digit wins. Last week, they put up 84 points in a 19-point win at Colorado, then followed that with a 13-point win at Utah in a low-scoring game.

Guard Boogie Ellis, the team's leading scorer, is a big part of the Trojans' push to finish second in the Pac-12 for the second time in three seasons.

In his first 20 games this season, Ellis scored 20+ points in just four games.

But in his last nine games, he has scored 20+ points five times, including four times in five home games. In that five-game stretch at home, Ellis has averaged 24.6 PPG, and he went for 31 against UCLA and 33 against Stanford.

Arizona vs USC Prediction and Picks

Arizona vs USC Prediction: USC to win

Arizona vs USC Picks: USC +2.5 (Best Value: BetUS & BetMGM) & Boogie Ellis over 18.5 points (Best Value: BetOnline)

The Wildcats are still a very, very good team, and they have a high ceiling if they play their best. But USC is pretty darn formidable at home, and I love the Trojans to take the win tonight, with another big performance by Ellis leading the way.