Arizona got over the Sweet 16 hurdle, winning in that round for the first time in 11 years. Now comes an even bigger obstacle in the Elite Eight, where it has fallen short the last time trips to a regional final.
But none of those Wildcat teams were this big a favorite.
Top-seeded Arizona (35-2) has opened as a 5.5-point favorite for Saturday’s West Region final against No. 2 Purdue (30-8), according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with the over/under set at 151.5. That’s the biggest spread for the UA in an Elite
Eight since 1998, when as 10.5-point favorites (and defending NCAA champions) it was blown out by Utah.
The Wildcats were a small underdog in the 2015 Elite Eight against Wisconsin, and the year before it was a 3.5-point favorite against the Badgers. They were also underdogs against UConn in 2011 and Illinois in 2005 and covered both times in those losses.
The 2001 Elite Eight was the last time Arizona won as a favorite.
Purdue has been an underdog four times this season, winning three of those outright.
