After a tough start in Pac-12 play, No. 23 Arizona has won and covered the point spread in four of its last five. The Wildcats look to continue building momentum as 10-point favorites at home against USC on Thursday evening, highlighting a busy slate of college basketball. The card is highlighted by a healthy dose of competitive mid-major action. Several enticing conference matchups feature on the betting board, including an AAC battle between Cincinnati and Wichita State. Here are odds, analysis and picks for Thursday’s college hoops action. __MORE:__ [Updated NCAA Tournament odds, top 25 rankings](https://www.betchicago.com/ncaa-tournament-odds-top-25-rankings-baylor-contender) ## USC at No. 23 Arizona (-10, 140) __Tip-off:__ 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT (ESPN2) __Betting records:__ USC 17-5 SU, 12-10 ATS; Arizona 15-6 SU, 12-9 ATS __[KenPom](https://kenpom.com/) prediction:__ Arizona 76-64 Both programs have performed well relative to market expectations. USC is 5-2 ATS in its last seven, and Arizona returns home after a three-game road trip on a 4-1 ATS run in its last five. The Trojans are 5-2 SU and 6-1 ATS on the road this season, and they will look to play spoiler Thursday against an Arizona program that is 9-2 ATS at home. Freshman guard Nico Mannion has played well over the last couple of weeks and so has senior forward Stone Gettings, who posted 19 points and 12 rebounds in his team's 66-49 win at Washington State last weekend. USC is 4-1 ATS in its last five games following a straight-up loss, and the Trojans won't be lacking confidence in Tucson. This spread and total appear to be spot-on, and there are plenty of other games to bet on Thursday's board. ## Tulane at No. 25 Houston (-17, 135.5) __Tip-off:__ 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT (ESPNU) __Betting records:__ Tulane 10-11 SU, 11-10 ATS; Houston 17-5 SU, 13-9 ATS __KenPom prediction:__ Houston 77-61 Tulane is 0-5 SU and ATS in its last five games heading into one of its most difficult matchups of the season. The Green Wave go to the Fertitta Center as a 17-point underdog. Oddsmakers can't seem to set Houston's totals low enough. UNDER bettors have cashed in the Cougars' last seven games, and at 135.5, there is a tick of value taking a small position on the UNDER in a contest where Tulane is a strong candidate to score in the 50s. The total has gone UNDER in five of the last six meetings between these programs. __Pick:__ Half unit on UNDER 135.5 ## UCLA at Arizona State (-6, 141) __Tip-off:__ 11 p.m. ET/10 p.m. CT (ESPN2) __Betting records:__ UCLA 12-10 SU, 11-11 ATS; Arizona State 13-8 SU, 11-10 ATS __KenPom prediction:__ Arizona State 74-66 UCLA has shown improvement, as coach Mick Cronin's team continues to get used to his unique style and the demands that come with it. While they still have a long way to go on defense, there have been some positive signs. The Bruins have won and covered the spread in four of their last five. Offensively, they have been doing a great job taking care of the basketball over their last five games and have started to develop an identity, allowing junior guard Chris Smith from Chicago to let loose. The Sun Devils are performing well, winning three of their last four and covering the spread in five of their last seven. They are ranked No. 29 in adjusted defensive efficiency at KenPom, holding opposing offenses to 93.6 points per 100 possessions, and are set to square off against a UCLA program that prefers to slow down the game. If this line hits 7, then there is nothing wrong with taking a small slice of pie on UCLA +7. __Pick:__ UNDER 141 ## Cincinnati at Wichita State (-4, 134) __Tip-off:__ 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT (ESPN) __Betting records:__ Cincinnati 14-7 SU, 9-12 ATS; Wichita State 17-4 SU, 10-9-2 ATS __KenPom prediction:__ Wichita State 68-64 These teams are trending in opposite directions in the betting market. Cincinnati is 5-2 ATS in its last seven, while Wichita State is just 1-5 ATS in its last six. The Bearcats have struggled on the road, going 2-4 SU and ATS in the role. UNDER bettors have cashed in five of their last seven and in four of Wichita State's last five, but the total in this game is a tick too low, especially when you consider the Shockers' opponents' average length of possession is 16.4 seconds, 21st fastest in the country. __Pick:__ Half unit on OVER 134 ## Thursday totals best bets Oakland/Northern Kentucky UNDER 133.5 William & Mary/College of Charleston UNDER 141.5 Campbell/Winthrop UNDER 143.5 Northern Colorado/Southern Utah UNDER 134 __Bookmark us:__ [College basketball betting coverage](https://www.betchicago.com/ncaa-basketball-betting)