The No. 22-ranked UCLA Bruins and No. 5 Arizona Wildcats renew their former Pac-12 rivalry on Monday night in Las Vegas, squaring off in one of the marquee matchups on college basketball’s opening-day schedule at T-Mobile Arena.
The two programs have continued their annual series since moving to different conferences, with each team winning one of their last two meetings. Arizona edged UCLA 69-65 last November in Inglewood, while the Bruins picked up a 57-54 victory in Phoenix the previous year.
Both teams enter the new campaign fresh off respective NCAA Tournament appearances, although their rosters look considerably different from a year ago.
Arizona enjoyed a remarkable 36-3 campaign that included Big 12 regular season and tournament championships and a trip to the NCAA Tournament semifinal. Head coach Tommy Lloyd is tasked with replacing his top three scorers in Brayden Burries, Koa Peat and Jaden Bradley, but the Wildcats still feature an experienced frontcourt led by Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov.
UCLA finished 24-12 under Mick Cronin, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to UConn. The Bruins lost their top two leading scorers in Tyler Bilodeau and Donovan Dent but return several established contributors, including Trent Perry, Eric Dailey Jr. and Xavier Booker.
Monday’s matchup is part of the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas doubleheader, which also features Gonzaga and Purdue. Tipoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET on TNT and truTV.
UCLA vs. Arizona Odds Today
Arizona is a 4.5-point favorite over UCLA in Monday’s season opener at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:
- Point Spread: Arizona -4.5 (-110) | UCLA +4.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Arizona -190 | UCLA +155
- Total: Over 149.5 (-110) | Under 149.5 (-105)
Referenced odds subject to change.
UCLA vs. Arizona Prediction
UCLA +4.5 (-110): I’m taking the points with UCLA in Monday night’s opener, mainly leaning on the Bruins’ returning experience against an Arizona team that will be forced to rely on several new faces.
Trent Perry averaged 12.6 points per game last season and appears ready to take on additional responsibility in UCLA’s backcourt following the departure of Donovan Dent. He looked comfortable running the offense during the Bruins’ two exhibition victories, recording 11 assists against just one turnover.
Eric Dailey provides another established option after averaging 11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds last season, while Xavier Booker gives UCLA a strong presence around the basket who can also stretch the floor.
Five Wildcats who averaged at least 8.8 points per game are gone, including Burries, Peat and Bradley, who combined for 43 points per contest. The Wildcats also enter the opener without Clemson transfer RJ Godfrey, who remains ineligible, further limiting their available depth.
There’s also some recent history between these teams to consider. Their last two meetings were decided by three and four points, respectively, with both contests played at neutral sites.
Of course, neither result guarantees another close finish, especially with the changes to both rosters. But I expect UCLA to be competitive against a Wildcats team trying to incorporate several newcomers.
- Best Bet: UCLA +4.5 (-110)
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
- Moneyline: Arizona has received 64% of the moneyline tickets and 88% of the money wagered.
- Spread: The Wildcats are the more popular choice against the spread, attracting 72% of tickets and 90% of the total dollars at -4.5.
- Total: Bettors have shown a clear preference for the Under at 149.5, which accounts for 87% of all bets and 86% of the handle.
UCLA vs. Arizona Game Info
- 🏟️ Location: T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada
- 📅 Date: Monday, November 2, 2026
- ⏰ Start Time: 10 p.m. ET
- 📺 Where to Watch: TNT, truTV, HBO Max
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