One of the biggest matchups to kick off the college basketball season tips off this evening in Sin City, with Arizona entering as a 4.5-point favorite against UCLA.
My Arizona vs. UCLA prediction has the Bruins keeping this one interesting against the Wildcats.
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TOP PICK
Who will win Arizona vs UCLA: UCLA +4.5
Playable down to +3.5.
A lot of people will love the Arizona Wildcats in this one, but the UCLA Bruins are very intriguing to me to kick off the season.
Not only do the Bruins return three starters from last season, giving them a slight edge over Arizona, which returns just two, but they also add Nikola Kusturica, a projected No. 1 overall draft pick. The European product was a massive get for this program and should fulfill every expectation this season.
With the amount of talent Arizona lost this past offseason, the Wildcats have some big shoes to fill. They need those replacements to produce early, especially with the gauntlet they have to navigate to start the season.
I think Arizona gets slapped in the mouth early, and the Bruins keep this one close.
COVERS INTEL: Look out for UCLA guard Trent Perry, who will take another step forward after averaging 12.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, while recording five 20-plus-point performances last season. If the now-junior and the other returning starters can all take a significant step forward, UCLA will be a massive threat this evening and throughout the Big Ten season. 
Arizona vs UCLA Over/Under: Under 149.5
If UCLA wants to keep this game close, the Bruins will have to do everything they can to slow the pace of play and keep it well below Arizona's preferred tempo. Head coach Mick Cronin likes his teams to play at a bottom-50 pace, while Tommy Lloyd's teams are typically among the Top 50 in tempo.
Given the magnitude of this matchup, the intensity will be through the roof. Both teams should also have fresh legs, so I expect the defenses to come ready to play.
If the pace gets out of hand, the Bruins will likely struggle to keep up, with a strong chance of this game getting away from them.
This line may move up, so be patient. You may get a better number, but I wouldn't play it any lower than this.
Arizona vs UCLA combo
If UCLA can keep this one close and force Arizona to play its style of basketball on a neutral court, I love pairing UCLA +4.5 with the Under 149.5. You'll get a cool, crisp 3.13x price tag. Is that a sweat worth taking on night one of college basketball? I think so.
Arizona vs UCLA combo
- UCLA +4.5
- Under 149.5
- 2025-26 Season: 65-67-19, +1.8 units
Arizona vs UCLA odds
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
- Spread: Arizona -4.5 | UCLA +4.5
- Over/Under: Over 149.5 | Under 149.5
- Moneyline: Arizona 64% | UCLA 36%
For the full slate of college basketball matchups, check out our college basketball odds board!
Arizona vs UCLA trend
The Under is 4-1 in the Bruins' last five neutral-site games as an underdog. Find more college basketball betting trends.
How to watch Arizona vs UCLA
| Location | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Date | Monday, Nov. 2, 2026 |
| Tip off | 10 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT, truTV |
Arizona vs UCLA latest injuries
Check out our college basketball injuries page for updates on every team.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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