Oregon vs. Arizona score predictions

Will the Wildcats beat the Ducks to stay unbeaten in Pac-12 play?

The Arizona Wildcats (13-4, 4-0) will battle the Oregon Ducks (10-4, 1-2) on Thursday at 7 p.m. MST in McKale Center on ESPN.

Arizona is looking for its seventh straight win, while Oregon is looking to get itself back in the Pac-12 title race.

KenPom projects the Wildcats will win 67-63 with a 62 percent win probability. Here is what we think will happen. Be sure to leave your predictions in the comment section below.

Brian J. Pedersen — Arizona wins 71-66

Injuries are a part of sports, and no one in the Pac-12 can attest to this more than Oregon. The Ducks squad that comes to McKale is a shell of the one that was picked to win the conference back in November, the result of numerous ailments to key players. Freak specimen Bol Bol is done for the year, forward Kenny Wooten is dealing with a broken jaw and various other players have dealt with injuries.

Meanwhile, Arizona has avoided disaster in that area—even somehow having point guard Justin Coleman miss any games despite a dislocated shoulder. The Ducks have had to completely revamp their game plan, something that’s still coming into shape (and has led to their 1-2 start in Pac-12 play). The Wildcats are far more in a groove in terms of players’ roles, even with Emmanuel Akot’s abrupt departure, and that comfort level is enough to give them the edge.

Ronnie Stoffle — Arizona wins 70-65

With the absence of Akot, I’m very interested to see how UA defends the perimeter. Ultimately, the Wildcats are at home and the students are back in session which should be enough to will them to victory. No Akot hopefully translates to no problem. This feels like a great opportunity for Dylan Smith to capitalize on extra minutes.

Zant Reyez — Arizona wins 71-67

If Bol Bol didn’t get hurt, Oregon would win this game. UA will do what it has, and will do, this season and start poorly, but will find a way to win.

Christopher Boan — Arizona wins 69-68

I’m not sure what Arizona, sans-Akot will look like come Thursday night, but I’m going to go with the team that isn’t coming off an inexplicable loss to a UCLA team it led by 10 points in the final minutes. The Ducks are ranked 46th in KenPom, but have lost Bol Bol and a host of other players to injuries this season. Dana Altman always gives Sean Miller and company fits, but I don’t think this year’s Ducks squad has enough of a punch to provide more bite than bark, so I’ll give Arizona the slightest of an edge.

Ryan Kelapire — Arizona wins 68-63

If the Ducks were healthy, I’d pick them. They are not, so I am going with the Wildcats at home. These two teams are so similar by the numbers that I have to assume it is going to come down to only a possession or two.

Since it usually takes something extreme to beat Arizona at home — like Baylor grabbing 19 offensive rebounds — I have a hard time picking against them when the talent level is so even. Though if Kenny Wooten plays, that could change the calculus a bit.

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