Upset Alert: Market Misreads Arizona's Rhythm Ahead of Auburn Clash
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The Wildcats enter Friday's road game as underdogs for the first time this season, but Tommy Lloyd's squad is primed to defy the odds at Neville Arena.
Let's be clear: listing Arizona as the underdog for Friday's matchup against Auburn is a massive market misread. For anyone who has actually watched Tommy Lloyd's offensive rhythm this month, this screams 'upset alert.'
As Sports Illustrated first reported, the Wildcats are heading into a road tilt against the Auburn Tigers as underdogs for the first time this season. FanDuel Sportsbook has the spread set at Auburn -1.5, with both teams listed at -110 on the moneyline. While the betting market is leaning toward the Tigers, the reality on the court suggests a different story.
Arizona enters the game with a 2-1 record. While they suffered a rough season opener against UCLA in Las Vegas, they have since found their stride with two blowout victories over Northern Arizona and Cal Poly. The Wildcats also hold the psychological edge, having dominated this specific matchup last year in Tucson with a 97-68 win. In that contest, Koa Peat led the way with 18 points, while Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries each contributed 16.
Auburn, currently 2-0 and ranked No. 20 at KenPom, comes off dominant wins against Appalachian State (75-53) and SE Louisiana (92-59). Coach Steven Pearl, now in his second season, has a backcourt featuring Kevin Overton and Tahaad Pettiford. The Tigers have also revamped their frontcourt with international big man Narcisse Ngoy and three transfers: Bukky Oboye (Santa Clara), Owen Freeman (Creighton), and Thomas Dowd (Troy).
Sports Illustrated notes that Auburn's interior depth could pose a challenge for Arizona, which has relied heavily on Ivan Kharchenkov and Motiejus Krivas while Clemson transfer RJ Godfrey remains sidelined due to a fight for a fifth year of eligibility. To secure the win, Arizona will need to improve its three-point shooting—currently at 27.5%—to create space for Krivas, especially since Auburn has held opponents to a low 24.6% from deep.
If Derek Dixon, Caleb Holt, JJ Mandaquit, and Kharchenkov can hit open shots to stretch the floor, the Wildcats are more than capable of silencing the crowd at Neville Arena.