Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Picks, Lines Odds & Predictions
The first college basketball betting matchup of the Second Round in the South Region will see No. 3 Arkansas battle the No. 6 seed, Texas Tech. The Razorbacks are in great form, winning 10 out of the last 11 games. The only defeat during that run came in the SEC semis against LSU. They also managed to cover the spread nine times in that stretch. Arkansas struggled at the start of the First Round matchup against Colgate. However, they put together a 17-0 run to end the first half and dominated in the second period to win by 17. It was only the third tournament victory for the Hogs since 1999.
Texas Tech had similar first-half troubles against the underdog. They were trailing the No. 11 Utah State by 3 at halftime. And just like Arkansas, they produced an impressive second-half performance to win comfortably by 12. The Red Raiders lost five times in their last 8 games and are 4-7 ATS in their last 11. Still, all losses came to No. 4 seed or better tournament teams.
Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Line Movement
The Red Raiders are favored in this matchup, although by the tiniest of margins. The line opened at -1 but some early support for the Razorbacks drove it to Evens at some sportsbooks. Still, most of them stayed with the opening college basketball betting odds. As this is a matchup between two solid offensive teams, the total was initially set at 141. It has slightly dropped since, to 140.5.
Notes On The Texas Tech Red Raiders
For a better part of the college basketball betting season, Texas Tech mostly relied on their defense to win games. They ranked 21st in adjusted defensive efficiency, a big reason for their +9.6 scoring margin. However, towards the end of the campaign, the offense started to click, too. At the moment, they sit at No. 33 in offensive efficiency in KemPom’s rankings. Coach Beard’s offensive plan mainly revolves around deliberate half-court attack, limiting turnovers, and getting to the free-throw line as much as possible. On defense, they concentrate on defending the paint and forcing opponents to take difficult shots. Considering how much Arkansas relies on dribble penetration, this plan may serve Texas Tech pretty well in Sunday’s matchup.
The Red Raiders’ key players mainly come from the transfer market. The leading scorer is Georgetown transfer, Mac McClung, with 15.8 points per game. Marcos Santos Silva, who transferred from VCU, lead the team in rebounding with 6.5 rpg.
Notes On The Arkansas Razorbacks
Under coach Musselman, Arkansas has grown to be one of the most entertaining teams in the country. They are playing at the 20th fastest pace in the country. The key to beating Texas Tech will likely be their ability to get out and run. If the Hogs manage to impose the tempo that suits them, the Red Raiders may be in trouble. In addition, they’ll need to exploit Sunday’s opponent’s subpar perimeter defense and shoot the ball well. Arkansas is 10-0 this season when making 9 or more deep-range shots. But if the threes aren’t falling, they’ll have a lot of trouble breaking the tough Texas Tech’s D.
The first name on the Arkansas teams sheet is the potential lottery pick, Moses Moody. The freshman SF is averaging 17.2 points per game this season. Besides, with his 5.9 rebounds per college basketball betting game, he fares pretty well for a backcourt player.
Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Pick: Arkansas +1
This line may be an overreaction to Arkansas’ slow start against the inferior college basketball betting opposition. Coach Musselman’s squad is oozing with talent and looks primed for a deep run, especially with No. 2 seed Ohio State out. The two teams break about even in the most relevant statistical categories. However, the size and athleticism the Hogs have will give them an advantage on the boards and perhaps plenty of second-chance points which could be a deciding factor on Sunday.
