The Arizona Wildcats are seeking to restore their status as a college basketball powerhouse by advancing to the Elite Eight when they take on the surging Clemson Tigers on Thursday in a 2024 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 showdown. The No. 2-seeded Wildcats have reached the Sweet 16 twice since 2017 but haven't played in the Elite Eight since 2015. Last year, they were memorably upset by Princeton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The No. 6-seeded Tigers are seeking their first Elite Eight appearance since 1980 and just the second in program history.
Tipoff is set for 7:10 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Wildcats are 7-point favorites and the over/under for total points scored is 152.5 in the latest Clemson vs. Arizona odds via SportsLine consensus. Before making any Arizona vs. Clemson picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Mike McClure.
McClure is a DFS pro with more than $2 million in career winnings, and he's also a documented winner as a SportsLine analyst in just about every major sport. College basketball is no exception, and McClure heads into the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament with a record of 105-84-4 that has netted his followers a profit of more than $1,200. Anyone who has followed him has already seen massive returns.
Now, McClure has his sights on Clemson vs. Arizona in the 2024 Sweet 16 and just locked in his picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Arizona vs. Clemson:
- Clemson vs. Arizona spread: Arizona -7
- Clemson vs. Arizona over/under: 152.5
- Clemson vs. Arizona money line: Arizona -310, Clemson +250
- CLEM: The Tigers are 8-1 against the spread as betting underdogs this season.
- AZ: The Wildcats are 10-3 ATS in non-conference games this season.
- Clemson vs. Arizona picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Arizona can cover
The Wildcats have benefited from the resurgence of guard Caleb Love, who was an integral part of North Carolina's run to the national title game two years ago before transferring to Arizona. The slick shooter was named Pac-12 Player of the Year after averaging 18.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
However, a late-season slump coincided with a slide that saw Arizona lose two of its three games before the NCAA Tournament. He scored 19 combined points in those contests. Love struggled early against Dayton before finding his rhythm in the second half and finishing with a team-high 19 points. Coach Tommy Lloyd told the media afterward he's confident Love has worked past his struggles and will continue to be the reliable leader the Wildcats need. Keshad Johnson also played a big role in Arizona's victory over Dayton, recording 13 points and seven rebounds. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
Why Clemson can cover
Numerous Clemson players have said the team's resurgence in the NCAA Tournament can be attributed to an effort in support of coach Brad Brownell, who hasn't always been popular with the fan base. Many program supporters wanted the veteran coach gone following back-to-back seasons in which the Tigers missed the NCAA Tournament. They were ousted from the NIT in the first round last year.
Although Brownell, 55, is the winningest coach in the program's history, the Tigers have never won an ACC Tournament or regular season title under his leadership and have reached the Sweet 16 just one other time in his tenure (2018).
Even so, players such as star forward PJ Hall, a senior who leads the club with averages of 18.5 and 6.4 rebounds per game, have repeatedly told the media that the team stands firmly behind its head coach and its effort in the NCAA Tournament has reflected that sentiment. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
How to make Arizona vs. Clemson picks
McClure has analyzed Clemson vs. Arizona from every angle and he's leaning Over on the point total. He has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
So who wins Clemson vs. Arizona in the Sweet 16, and what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the expert who's up more than 12 units on his college basketball picks, and find out.
