Wednesday’s college basketball schedule is highlighted by a top-25 matchup in the SEC between the no. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide and the no. 20 Arkansas Razorbacks. Tipoff is set for 9:00 PM EST. With the Razorbacks at home, this game is a straight-up even betting matchup with the over/under set at 156 points.
Arkansas has come on strong during the second half of the season and becomes one of the SEC’s biggest surprises. The Hogs have won seven of their last eight games. Their only loss during that stretch was a non-conference game against Oklahoma State. That means Arkansas has won seven in a row in conference play, making them 9-4 inside the SEC and 17-5 overall, all but solidifying a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide continues to run away with the SEC regular-season title. After a bumpy start to the season, Alabama has won 14 of 16, making the Tide 13-1 inside the SEC and 18-5 overall. They currently lead Arkansas by 3.5 games in the SEC standings, all but ensuring Alabama the top seed in the conference tournament.
Let It Rain
Alabama is a team that specializes in the three-point shot, as the Crimson Tide has six players who have made at least 20 shots from beyond the arc this season. Leading the way in that category is John Petty and Jaden Shackelford, who combine to average 27.5 points per game. Meanwhile, the likes of Jahvon Quinerly, Herbert Jones, Joshua Primo, and Keon Ellis all shoot over 40% from the perimeter. That quartet is typically efficient on the outside shot, while Petty and Shackelford are the team’s volume shooters.
Oddly enough, Alabama is coming off a bad shooting game against Vanderbilt over the weekend. However, the Tide found a way to win despite shooting just 25.6% from beyond the arc. That game serves as evidence that even when the Crimson Tide struggles to shoot, they can still push the tempo and run up the score. Alabama has scored at least 80 points in three straight games, as most SEC teams haven’t had a formula for slowing them down.
In a Good Moody
For Arkansas, one of the biggest keys to their recent hot streak has been the play of freshman guard Moses Moody. He’s averaging 16.2 points per game to go along with 5.6 rebounds. Perhaps more importantly, Moody scored a career-high 28 points in a loss to Alabama last month, as the Crimson Tide won despite not having an answer for Moody on the defensive end.
Of course, the Hogs remain balanced offensively with five players who average over nine points per game. That includes JD Notae, the team’s biggest three-point threat outside of Moody, Jalen Tate, who paces the Razorbacks with 4.3 assists per game, and forward Justin Smith, one of the best rebounders in the SEC.
Same Story as Before
When these teams met last month, the Crimson Tide dominated in a 90-59 win. The Razorbacks are in a much better place, but that doesn’t mean they can turn around a 31-point defeat against a team with just one SEC loss this season. Bet on Alabama to win on the road Wednesday night.
100% up to $3,000 Bonus
Bovada is our most recommended ONLINE CASINO and POKER ROOM for US players with excellent deposit options. Get your 100% signup bonus today.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.