Attention Arizona sports betting fans: The Wildcats struggle to cover the spread in March.
On Friday, the Arizona Wildcats will be playing in their 36th NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. They are the No. 1 seed in the South Region and will be taking on Wright State in San Diego at 4:27 p.m. Arizona time on truTV.
The Wildcats have a strong March Madness history, boasting a 56-34 record. They were crowned national champions in 1997 and made appearances in the Final Four in 1988, 1994, 1997, and 2001.
With new head coach Tommy Lloyd at the helm, Arizona is ready to make their first appearance in the Big Dance since former coach Sean Miller’s departure. The team is seen as a strong contender for the national championship in this year’s tournament.
There is uncertainty surrounding Lloyd’s ability to lead Arizona back to success, despite leading the Wildcats to a 31-3 record and their first No. 1 seed in the tournament in eight years.
Nonetheless, it is evident that Arizona sports betting fans are hopeful for the Wildcats to enhance their performance in the upcoming tournament. Let’s take a look at Arizona’s recent track record in their past 10 appearances in the Big Dance.
Arizona has made appearances in the last 10 NCAA tournaments.
| 2007 | 0-1 |
| 2008 | 0-1 |
| 2009 | 2-1 |
| 2011 | 3-1 |
| 2013 | 3-0 |
| 2014 | 1-3 |
| 2015 | 1-3 |
| 2016 | 0-1 |
| 2017 | 2-1 |
| 2018 | 0-1 |
| Last 10 app. | 12-13 |
Wildcats Sports Achieve Success in Mixed March Madness
Since 2007, the Wildcats have had their fair share of victories and defeats in the NCAA Tournament for college basketball bettors.
During that period, under the guidance of Lute Olson and Sean Miller, the team compiled a 12-13 record against the spread in NCAA tournament games. They advanced to three Elite Eights but fell short of reaching any Final Fours.
In 2013, the Wildcats had their best March Madness performance to date, with a sixth-seeded Arizona team coached by Miller going undefeated against the spread with a 3-0 record.
The team won against Belmont by 17 points as a 4.5-point favorite and followed up with a 23-point victory over Harvard as a 10-point favorite in the next round. Unfortunately, the Wildcats’ run in 2013 came to an end in the Sweet 16 against Ohio State. Arizona covered the 3.5-point spread but ultimately lost to the Buckeyes by three points, 73-70.
Arizona had notable showings against the spread in 2009 (2-1 ATS), 2011 (3-1 ATS), and 2017 (2-1 ATS).
In 2018, the Wildcats suffered a disappointing March upset when they were defeated by Buffalo in Boise. Despite being the fourth seed and a nine-point favorite, they lost 89-68 to the 13-seed.
In addition to their lone appearance in March Madness in 2007 (lost to Purdue), the team also made single appearances in 2008 (lost to West Virginia) and 2016 (lost to Wichita State).
The Wildcats’ journey in 2014 was unorthodox, as Arizona reached the Elite Eight despite failing to cover the spread in three of their four games.
In that year, Arizona defied the odds by defeating Weber State by nine points, despite being a 20-point favorite in the opening round. They continued their success with a 23-point victory over Gonzaga as a 7.5-point favorite, and then secured a six-point win over San Diego State, also as a 7.5-point favorite.
Bo Ryan’s Wisconsin team ended Arizona’s run in the Elite Eight, defeating the Wildcats 64-63.
What can we expect from the 2022 Tournament?
In the first round of the game, BetMGM Arizona began with a 21.5-point advantage over Wright State.
The other top seeds, Baylor, Kansas, and Gonzaga, are expected to dominate their opening games with spreads of -20.5, -22.5, and -23.5. However, it’s worth noting that last year, No. 1 seeds only managed a 2-2 record against similar spreads in the first round.
The Wildcats won by a margin of at least 20 points in 15 of their regular season games, making up about half of their total victories.
If the Wildcats emerge victorious on Friday, they will face either TCU or Seton Hall in a game against a Power Five team known for their strong defense.
The Wildcats’ performance against the spread in 2022 will be closely monitored, as historical data indicates that Arizona betting apps may expect several tight matchups in the weeks ahead.
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Author
Peterson Christopher has been reporting on sports and sports betting in Arizona for more than seven years, having worked at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News. He currently serves as the primary writer at yengols.com.
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