Oregon Laying 3 Points at Home Versus Arizona; Ducks 6-2 ATS as Home Favorite

• No. 9 Oregon is a 3-point home favorite versus No. 24 Arizona on Thursday (9 pm ET, Jan. 9)
• The Ducks are 11-4 ATS this season, and 6-2 ATS as a home favorite
• The Wildcats are 2-6 ATS in their last eight – check our betting prediction below

No. 9 Oregon (12-4, 8-0 home) hosts No. 24 Arizona (11-3, 0-1 away) Thursday (9 pm ET, Jan. 9) in a battle of Pac-12 heavyweights.

The Ducks, fresh off a 1-1 Rocky Mountain road trip, are 8-0 in Eugene this season and opened as a 3-point favorite over their conference rival. Oregon is currently favored by 3.5 points.

No. 24 Arizona vs No. 9 Oregon Odds

Odds taken Jan. 8th

Oregon has been one of the most profitable teams to bet on this season, posting an 11-4 ATS record so far. They’re 6-2 ATS as a home favorite, and have covered in all but one of their past seven home dates.

Arizona meanwhile, sports a 7-7 ATS record but has failed to cover in six of its past eight outings. After starting the season 9-0, the Wildcats have dropped three of five, including their lone road game to date, at No. 4 Baylor. Despite their recent struggles, they remain a top twenty 2020 NCAA Tournament odds contender, in large part thanks to their aggressive style.

Bully Ball

Arizona is a big team and they love to pound the ball inside. Their rotation features three players 6-foot-10 or taller, led by Zeke Nnaji. The 6’11” freshman averages a team-high 16.6 points per game and is shooting 69.1% from the floor. He’s racked up three straight double-doubles, including 17 points and 11 boards against Arizona State last time out.

Zeke Nnaji can't be stopped…bruh 😱 pic.twitter.com/rUwmbVbIRK

— ZonaZealotsFS (@ZonaZealots) January 5, 2020

As a team, the Wildcats punished the Sun Devils down low, outscoring them 50-18 in the paint. Arizona ranks sixth in the nation in field goal percentage, with the majority of their attempts coming at or near the basket. Their length and size is not only an asset on offense, but at the defensive end as well. They do an excellent job contesting shots, and are holding opposing teams to just 36.9% from the floor.

They’re an imposing mismatch for smaller teams like Arizona State, but Oregon has the size to matchup with them down low, and the outside shooting to punish their big lineups.

Flying High

The Ducks are known for their 3-point prowess, but they have the pieces to win down low as well. Last time out versus Utah, they outscored the Utes 42-22 in the paint and buried 50% of their two-point attempts. They feature multiple players with the size to defend Nnaji, and their experience and athleticism will be tough to overcome.

DUCKS WIN!

Oregon holds Utah scoreless over the final 2:35 to hold on for a gritty road win. #GoDucks #AlwaysUs pic.twitter.com/ECW64lf6vA

— Oregon Men's Basketball (@OregonMBB) January 4, 2020

For the season, they rank seventh in field goal percentage and eighth from beyond the arc. They haven’t lost at home since January 24, 2019 and their average margin of victory in Eugene this season is 22.5 points.

Unlike Arizona, who has zero Quadrant 1 wins, the Ducks have four (Memphis, Seton Hall, Michigan and Houston) and a victory over the Wildcats would tie them for the most Quadrant 1 wins in the nation. Their only three losses have come against No. 1 Gonzaga, No. 25 Colorado and North Carolina in the Bahamas, and they look every bit like the deserving Pac-12 title favorites.

Avoid Arizona on the Road

After beating up on some pretty soft opponents early in the season, Arizona has come crashing back down to earth lately. They’re 0-2 versus ranked opponents and have lost three straight meetings overall to the Ducks.

Aside from a slip-up in the thin Colorado air, Oregon has looked dominant for most of the season and has been flawless at home. They also have a couple of trends working in their favor. They’re 9-2 ATS off a win this season, and 6-1 ATS with at least four days rest.

Pick: Oregon -3.5 (-105)