In a high-stakes second-round SEC tournament showdown, the Arkansas Razorbacks (20-12, 9-9 SEC) and the Ole Miss Rebels (21-9, 10-7 SEC) collide with their NCAA Tournament hopes on the line. Both teams are hungry for a statement win—Arkansas looking to solidify its bubble status, while Ole Miss eyes a stronger tournament seeding. I’ll break down my preview, prediction, pick, and best bet for this second-round college basketball game between Arkansas and Ole Miss in the SEC tournament.
Here’s how I intend to play this SEC matinee. I’ll be picking individual games throughout the week, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more to-the-minute, point-of-need analyses and plays throughout conference tournament week.
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Ole Miss vs. Arkansas preview, prediction
The Razorbacks enter this matchup fresh off a gritty 72-68 victory over South Carolina, where they fended off a late push from the Gamecocks. Defense has been their calling card all season, ranking 27th nationally in defensive efficiency. Arkansas thrives on shot-blocking, standing 15th in block percentage, thanks in large part to Zvonimir Ivisic, who sits 10th individually in the category. Their ability to disrupt passing lanes, led by Boogie Fland and Adou Thiero, has helped limit opponents to just 29.1% from beyond the arc—one of the best marks in the country. However, offensive inconsistency has plagued them, particularly in three-point shooting and pick-and-roll execution. A 90-77 loss to Illinois exposed those weaknesses, but the Razorbacks’ defensive identity remains strong, holding three of their last four opponents under 70 points.
On the other side, Ole Miss counters with a high-powered offense, averaging 77.9 points per game on 44.7% shooting. Their defense has held firm, allowing 71.2 points per game and limiting opponents to 42.8% shooting, but their Achilles’ heel has been rebounding. The Rebels have a glaring -4.2 rebounding margin per game, which could prove costly against a physically imposing Arkansas squad. What Ole Miss lacks on the boards, they make up for in forcing turnovers, ranking among the SEC’s best with 8.6 steals per game, converting those into an impressive 16.4 points off turnovers.
Arkansas at Ole Miss pick, best bet
Both teams enter this contest knowing what’s at stake. Arkansas needs a deep run to secure its NCAA Tournament spot, while Ole Miss wants to build momentum for March Madness. If the Razorbacks can exploit Ole Miss’s rebounding struggles while tightening up their offensive execution, they’ll have a real shot at advancing. But if the Rebels can push the pace and force Arkansas into mistakes, their efficient scoring attack could prove too much to handle. With both teams battling for their postseason futures, expect an intense, physical fight until the final buzzer.
It’ll never feel all-the-way right to bet against Calipari in March. But I already had a little bit of a shine toward these Rebels.
Best bet: Ole Miss -4.5
Tail the Rebs to squash Calipari’s dreams in the SEC tourney with me in the DKN Betting Group here!
Want to approach your March Madness Bracket with the same precision as the top 1% of bracket pool winners? Check out what the PoolGenius optimizer has to offer!
