Sweet 16 Picks: Clemson vs. Arizona Betting Predictions

Clemson Tigers (23-11 SU, 18-14-2 ATS) vs. Arizona Wildcats (27-8 SU, 22-13-1 ATS)

When: Thursday, March 28th, 7:09 PM (ET)

Where: Crypto.com Arena, CA, Los Angeles

TV: CBS

Point Spread: CLMSN +7/ARZ -7

Total: 152

Money Line: Clemson Tigers +231/-293

Notable Injuries:

Clemson will be without Bas Leyte (Shoulder), Alex Hemenway (Leg), and Jake Heidbreder (Redshirt), marking significant absences. Arizona, however, reports a clean bill of health, ready to take full advantage.

Recent Form:

Clemson, coming off a solid 72-64 win over Baylor, is looking to upset the odds as a +7 underdog. Their season record of 23-11, including 11-10 in ACC play, shows they’re no strangers to tough competition. On the road, the Tigers have a commendable 8-6 record.

Arizona, with a dominant 27-8 season record and an impressive 27-8 record and solid road record, will aim to exploit their favorite status to extend their winning streak. Recently overcoming Dayton with a 78-68 victory, the Wildcats are on a mission to keep their momentum rolling.

Betting Trends:

Clemson has shown resilience, especially against the spread as the underdog, boasting an 8-1 ATS record in such situations this season.

Arizona, as the perennial favorite, has compiled a solid 20-13-1 ATS record, highlighting their ability to cover spreads consistently.

Deep Dive into the Under 152.5 Total Points Analysis:

Both Clemson and Arizona bring formidable defenses to the table, with opponent scoring averages at 70.6 and 71.9 points per game, respectively. Their defensive efficiencies are closely matched, both limiting opponents to under a 49% effective field goal percentage.

Moreover, the rebounding stats underscore their capacity to control the game’s tempo and limit scoring opportunities, with Clemson and Arizona excelling in defensive rebounds.

The neutral site aspect of this matchup is crucial, potentially affecting shooting accuracies and overall scoring, making the 152.5 total points line appear increasingly ambitious.

Crew’s Total Pick

The Clemson defense has been incredible in this tournament holding Baylor and New Mexico to 64 or fewer points. So here is where I’m at. Given the defensive strengths, rebounding capabilities, and the neutral site context, leaning towards the under on the 152.5 point total seems the most statistically sound bet. Anticipate a defensive slugfest, where every point will be hard-earned, likely resulting in a total score that falls shy of the set line. Take the Under 152.