Arizona vs UCLA Picks and Prediction for Monday November 2, 2026
The Arizona Wildcats will open their 2026-27 college basketball season Monday night with a matchup against the UCLA Bruins inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The game is scheduled to begin at 10 PM ET, with coverage available on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. Arizona comes into the new season ranked No. 5 in the country, looking to establish itself as one of the top teams in college basketball. UCLA enters the season ranked No. 22 and will look to use its defensive ability to challenge a talented Wildcats roster. Arizona is a 4.5-point favorite and -198 on the money line. UCLA is a +164, and the total is set at 150.5 points. Keep up with our College Basketball Picks.
Arizona looks to open the year strong
The Arizona Wildcats were one of the best teams in college basketball a year ago, finishing the campaign 36-3 overall with a Final Four appearance following a double-digit loss to the eventual champion Michigan Wolverines. Freshman duo Brayden Burries and Koa Peat led Arizona last year as the top two scorers on the roster but have since departed for the NBA. Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov are the top returning scorers this season, as each averaged 10.4 points per game last year. As a team, Arizona averaged better than 86 points on just over 50% shooting and 36% from the outside last season.
Head coach Tommy Lloyd replaced last year's class with a top-20 recruiting class in 2026. Former five-star Caleb Holt is the top piece for Arizona this season and will be relied upon heavily to return Arizona to the Final Four. Cameron Holmes was a highly touted four-star recruit from in-state, and big man Endurance Aiyamenkhue adds more interior size to the Wildcats.
UCLA tries to make a statement
The UCLA Bruins come into the 2026-27 season looking to repeat last year's success that saw them exit in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the UConn Huskies. A year ago, the Bruins averaged just under 78 points on 47% shooting and 38.2% from beyond the arc. Much like Arizona, UCLA saw a ton of last year's production leave the team following the close of the season. Trent Perry is the highest-scoring returning player for UCLA this season after averaging 12.6 points per game a year ago, while Eric Dailey Jr. also returns after averaging 11.6 points per game last season.
Mick Cronin did his work recruiting the 2026 class, adding several pieces expected to make an immediate impact. Nikola Kusturica is a 6'9" former five-star recruit from Serbia and one of the top international prospects for next year's draft. Gunars Grinvalds joins the Bruins from Latvia, and Joe Philon is a former four-star recruit from Montverde Academy.
Arizona vs UCLA Picks and Prediction
Pick: Arizona -4.5
Arizona has the offensive talent and athleticism necessary to cause problems for UCLA in this matchup. The Wildcats should have opportunities to attack the basket and create scoring chances in transition, especially if they can force UCLA into turnovers. The Bruins have traditionally been a physical defensive team under Mick Cronin, but Arizona should have enough offensive depth to overcome that pressure. The Wildcats will need to control the rebounding battle and avoid allowing UCLA to dictate the tempo throughout the game. Arizona should also have opportunities to create open looks from beyond the arc. Look for the Wildcats to establish themselves offensively and pull away late to cover the number.
Total Pick: Under 150.5
UCLA should look to slow this game down and force Arizona into difficult offensive possessions. The Bruins have the defensive ability necessary to limit transition opportunities and make the Wildcats work for quality looks. Arizona will have its opportunities offensively, but UCLA should be able to keep the game competitive by controlling the pace and avoiding unnecessary turnovers. Both teams will also be playing their first regular-season game, which could lead to some offensive inconsistency early. Expect a physical matchup with extended possessions and contested shots as both defenses make their presence felt. Look for the combined score to stay below the posted total.