San Diego State vs. #1 Arizona Picks and Predictions: Aztecs Face Wildcats in Phoenix

Have no fear, I already found our late night chase for Saturday, as we have a 10:30 p.m. eastern tip off in Phoenix on the hardwood. No, I'm not talking about the Suns, we're talking college hoops, where the San Diego State Aztecs try and take down the top ranked team in the country as they face the Arizona Wildcats. Tommy Lloyd's squad has been perfect through 10 games so far this season. Will they be able to keep it up in their home state? Find out with our favorite picks below.

More Saturday NCAA Basketball Coverage

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• #19 Texas Tech vs. #3 Duke
• #20 Auburn vs. #6 Purdue
• #22 St. John's vs. Kentucky
• #12 North Carolina vs. Ohio State

Go check out what else I've got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.

San Diego State Aztecs #1 Arizona Wildcats NCAA Basketball Insights

Miles Byrd puts up 9.7 points, 3.6 boards, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals for the Aztecs per game

Like I said, perfection from the Wildcats. They have won all 10 games, are 6-4 against the spread, and have, without a doubt, the best resume in college hoops so far this season. Not only are they one of the few undefeated teams left, but they already have five ranked wins on their record, of which all of them were in the top 20. The Wildcats beat No. 3 Florida to start the year and then took down No. 15 UCLA on a neutral site in Los Angeles. They beat No. 3 UConn in Storrs (perhaps the best win of any team so far this season), and had back to back victories against No. 20 Auburn at home and No. 12 Alabama in Birmingham. To add to it, they've covered the spread in all five of those games as well.

But could this defensive-minded Aztecs team give them trouble? They've strung together three straight wins to get to 6-3 on the year, posting a 4-5 record against the spread. San Diego State has been slightly battle tested, facing No. 7 Michigan, Oregon and Baylor in the Player's Era Festival, going 1-2 in those games, losing to both top 50 teams. Can they somehow compete with the Wildcats who seem to be unstoppable?

Matchup Information – San Diego State vs. Arizona – December 20

• Venue & Location: Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix, AZ)
• Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
• Kick Off: 10:30 p.m. Eastern
• Broadcast: ESPN2

San Diego State vs. Arizona Betting Odds

Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of December 19, 2025 at 2:50 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.

Spread

• San Diego State +14.5 (-110)
• Arizona -14.5 (-110)

Total

• Over 156.5 (-110)
• Under 156.5 (-110)

The Aztecs aren't all that great. They are No. 295 at taking care of the basketball, and even though they shoot over 41% from deep as a team, they are No. 262 in 3P Rate, so they don't take advantage. We saw them lose by 40 to Michigan on a neutral site, and in what will feel like a road game, I think this will be a dominant Wildcat victory.

San Diego State vs. #1 Arizona NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions

Koa Peat and the Wildcats take on the San Diego State Aztecs in Phoenix on Saturday

San Diego State vs. Arizona Prediction: Arizona Wins and Covers, Over 156.5

Best Bet: Arizona -14.5 (-110) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook

Get this now before it keeps ticking up. This is not your older brother's San Diego State team (shoutout Colby Marchio). The Aztecs used to be known for playing super slow offense, while locking down anyone defensively. That is not the case anymore.

For starters, they are in the top half of the nation in pace, while we know Arizona loves to run. The Aztecs won't have the offense or defense to keep up with as many possessions as we will see in this game. Arizona rebounds as good as anybody in the country, they get to the free throw line a ton, and they knock down their shots. While they are also a team that doesn't shoot threes, they shoot 73% from the stripe and are No. 66 at getting there, they are top 10 in offensive boards, and are No. 43 in 2P%, where most of their shots come from.

San Diego State is No. 231 in defensive boards, No. 177 in eFG% defense and No. 183 in FT Rate defense. The Wildcats will have a hay day on offense. The Aztecs failed to cover in both top 50 matchups already this season, and I simply don't think they have the hoopers to slow down the Wildcats' offense.

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