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The Stanford Cardinal are set to face the Arizona Wildcats. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our Stanford Arizona prediction, odds, and pick.
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The Stanford Cardinal knew that the Pac-12 Tournament odds were stacked against them. They were an underdog heading into the first round against Arizona State, and when they trailed 69-55 with 2:48 left, they were staring at an exit and a decisive loss which would have effectively ended the tenure of embattled coach Jerod Haase. Stanford hasn't made the NCAA Tournament in Haase's six seasons on The Farm, and a first-round conference tournament defeat on top of a miserable regular season would have left Stanford with no choice but to fire Haase. This is part of the backdrop to any Stanford Arizona prediction you might make.
To be clear, Haase is still likely to be fired, but after his team closed the Arizona State game with a 16-1 run to shock the Sun Devils, 71-70, Haase is still on the job. Now, he gets to face the No. 1 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament, conference champion Arizona. If Stanford somehow pulls the major upset, Haase could realistically retain his job. There is an argument to be made that if he wins this game, he could stay. If he loses, it's very hard to see him returning for the 2023 season. College basketball odds analysts would mostly agree with that view.
Why is it going to be tough for Stanford to beat Arizona? It's not just the fact that the Wildcats are in position to be a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, though that's obviously a central reason why Stanford faces an uphill climb. It's also notable that with the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas, Arizona fans are going to own the building and provide a partisan crowd for the Wildcats. More than that, Stanford played Arizona on March 3, when the Wildcats were coming off a Tuesday (March 1) COVID-19 makeup game against USC. Arizona was physically and mentally weary after a loaded schedule and a high-intensity performance against the Trojans. Stanford led at halftime and was close deep into the second half, but Arizona pulled away down the stretch to win by 12, 81-69. That March 3 clash is a fascinating game to contemplate when thinking about a Stanford Arizona pick.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Stanford-Arizona odds:
Pac-12 Tournament Odds: Stanford-Arizona Odds
Stanford: +16 (-110)
Arizona: -16 (-110)
Over: 144.5 (-110)
Under: 144.5 (-110)
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Why Stanford Could Cover the Spread
The Cardinal played Arizona competitively one week ago and are coming off an Arizona State game in which they were badly outplayed yet found a way to win. The Cardinal should be liberated and loose for this game. They will be relaxed and ready to play with house money.
Why Arizona Could Cover the Spread
The Wildcats were weary when they last played Stanford. They should be fresh after getting four full days off, and they'll have a very supportive crowd in Las Vegas.
Final Stanford-Arizona Prediction & Pick
Stanford might throw a few early punches, but Arizona will unleash a 10-0 or 12-2 run in the first half and take control of the game by halftime. The Wildcats will be better against Stanford than they were on March 3, when they won by 12.
Final Stanford-Arizona Pick: Arizona -16
