Last time we checked in on the Pac-12, the Arizona Wildcats were still the favorites, but they had one contender hot on their tail. Since then, everything has changed — but it has also stayed the same.
With three weeks left in the regular season, let's dive into the contenders in the Pac-12 and see if there's any value left to capitalize on.
All odds via DraftKings as of Tuesday, Feb. 20. When betting the Pac-12, register with Action Network's DraftKings promo code for a sign-up offer.
Arizona Wildcats (-1000)
The Arizona Wildcats look as if they'll go wire-to-wire in terms of being the favorite to win the conference. They're the best team in the Pac-12 and have established their dominance of late.
Arizona enters this Thursday's matchup with Washington State on a six-game winning streak, which includes beating Colorado by 20 and Arizona State by 45.
From a betting perspective, the Wildcats have no value left in them, as their price is indicative of their expected dominance in the coming weeks. However, they do have one crucial matchup coming up that they can't afford to overlook.
Washington State Cougars (+400)
We went over how Arizona has gone on a dominant run over its Pac-12 competition, but the Wildcats aren't the only club that has caught fire over the past few weeks.
The Washington State Cougars have rocketed toward the top of the conference standings by rattling off seven straight wins. Now, they sit just a half-game behind Arizona.
Washington State's hot streak actually dates back to Jan. 4. It's gone 11-2 since then, including a victory over Arizona.
However, if the Cougars are going to steal the regular-season conference title from Arizona, they must do it again on the road on Thursday, Feb. 22.
If you believe in the Cougars, this is the time to buy, as they're projected to win every game after their next matchup with Arizona. So, a victory this Thursday will make their current price a good value for the remainder of the season.
The Lookahead
Washington State vs. Arizona, Feb. 22
This may be the last matchup that will make or break the regular-season conference picture. Both teams come into this matchup on fire, and the Cougars have already proven they can take down the Wildcats, doing just that on Jan. 13.
However, this second meeting will be a home game for the Wildcats, and Arizona has lost only one home game this season.
On top of the home-court advantage, you can bet that Tommy Lloyd's Wildcats want to avenge their loss and secure the Pac-12. How will that impact the angle we take for that matchup?
Well, KenPom has the Wildcats projected to win by 11 points. While that line seems accurate, it wouldn't surprise me to see the market buy that number down to under 10 due to the respect Washington State has earned.
However, if we get a number under double digits, we should buy the Wildcats. Washington State is one of the few teams that can match up with Arizona size-wise, but that creates a stalemate on the offensive end.
Oregon vs. Arizona, March 2
While we should expect Arizona to take this matchup, this game will be vital in terms of evaluating Oregon moving forward. The Ducks sit just two games out of the Pac-12 and have made great strides after getting healthier throughout the season.
I will be looking to back Oregon as an underdog here, as we may get an overinflated number with Arizona playing at home. The Ducks dropped the first meeting by nine and were only 4.5-point underdogs.
We may see the Wildcats be favored by double-digits here, and that's too much disrespect to Oregon.
UCLA vs. Washington State, March 2
This is another matchup we can use as a barometer for postseason success. We know by now that Washington State is for real, and its perception of this matchup will be very different if it can take down Arizona again.
However, if the Cougars lose as expected, there will be value on Wazzu against the Bruins. Washington State has too much size and can shut down the paint, which is where UCLA generates nearly 57% of its offense.
That edge will also be prevalent on the other end of the court, but the Cougars can also stretch the floor with perimeter shooting. Look to back Washington State at -8 or better.
