A vintage Pac-12 matchup takes center stage on the first Monday of the college basketball season.
Arizona and UCLA close out the 2026 Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas, with both teams entering the 2026-27 campaign with heightened expectations.
Tommy Lloyd has Mick Cronin’s number, winning all seven head-to-head meetings since taking over at Arizona in 2021.
But with both teams reshuffling their rosters and it being early, anything can happen. The Wildcats are 4.5-point favorites, with the total opening at 149.5.
Arizona vs. UCLA prediction, best bet
The last time we saw Arizona, Lloyd’s squad fell one victory short of the 2026 national title game, ultimately dropping a Final Four battle to the eventual champion Michigan.
Three starters from that team are no longer on the roster, with Jaden Bradley, Brayden Burries, and Koa Peat all having moved on to the NBA. Filling in for Lloyd in the backcourt are UNC transfer Derek Dixon and five-star recruit Caleb Holt.
Holt had a strong showing in the Wildcats’ exhibition games, showcasing his size and versatility as a freshman.
Arizona also returns Ivan Kharchenkov alongside Motiejus Krivas, who earned preseason Big 12 Player of the Year honors. The imposing 7-foot-2 center chose to stay in school following a brief venture into the NBA Draft process.
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The Bruins will have their work cut out as Cronin enters his eighth season on the sidelines after a second-round exit to UConn in last year’s tournament. They were selected to finish fourth in the conference preseason poll.
UCLA isn’t lacking talent, with its rotation highlighted by Serbian international prospect Nikol Kusturica—who impressed during warm-up action—alongside returning starters Xavier Booker, Eric Dailey Jr., and Trent Perry.
Booker likely draws the tough assignment of Krivas, and this one favors the latter.
Though matching last season’s 36-3 campaign and Final Four run will be a challenge, Lloyd’s squad is currently slotted fifth in KenPom’s preseason rankings, and it has plenty of depth to handle business against the Bruins in this opening matchup.
If Arizona wants to live up to the lofty preseason expectations they have set, it starts with Krivas on the frontline.
I’m confident taking his points and rebounds combo prop with the Wildcats’ to cover in this curtain-raiser.
The PLAY: Arizona -4.5 (-112) + Motiejus Krivas Over 20 points & rebounds (-350) SGP (+118, DraftKings)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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