The Arizona Wildcats, one of the favorites to cut down the nets in the NCAA Tournament this season, handled their business Friday afternoon. A workmanlike 92-58 victory over Long Island University punched the Wildcats’ ticket to the second round, and they got to sit back and see who they’d face.
Utah State and Villanova had a spirited battle, but it was the Aggies pulling out the 9-over-8 upset against the former March Madness darlings. Now that the matchup is set, let’s check out the opening odds for Arizona vs. Utah State.
Arizona Wildcats vs. Utah State Aggies Second Round Opening Odds
Looking at the odds on DraftKings Sportsbook, Arizona opens as a 12.5-point favorite and holds -950 odds on the moneyline. Utah State has +625 odds to pull off the upset, with the game total set at 155.5 points.
Utah State’s offense has been the story this year. The Aggies posted a top-30 offensive rating in the country on their way to a Mountain West Conference title. Scoring was the name of the game against Villanova, as the Aggies put up 86 points. They got a pair of 20-point games from top scorers Mason Falslev and MJ Collins Jr. With an offense this potent, you never know what they’re capable of.
Arizona’s extremely impressive roster delivered this season. They ranked in the top five nationally in both offensive and defensive ratings. A pair of top-10 high school recruits, Brayden Burries and Koa Peat, took this team over the top. They joined Jaden Bradley to create a formidable “big three.” But it’s the program’s fellow freshman, Ivan Kharchenkov, who has been the X factor. The 6-foot-7 German can shoot, defend, and pull down plenty of boards — providing gravity to plenty of lineups. With a strong veteran frontcourt to boot, it’s a very dangerous team.
Arizona and Utah State will face off on Sunday. Whichever team wins will take on the winner of Arkansas and High Point in the Sweet 16.
