The No. 25 Alabama Crimson Tide host the No. 20 Arkansas Razorbacks on Wednesday night in an SEC college basketball matchup. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The Crimson Tide are listed as 5.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook with the total set at O/U 184.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction and pick for this SEC college basketball matchup.
Alabama vs. Arkansas prediction, preview
Alabama is one of the most exciting teams in the country to watch. It is the second-highest scoring team in the nation, averaging 91.8 points per game. With 35.9 attempts per game, it shoots by far the most three-pointers of any team in the nation as well. The Crimson Tide also push the tempo harder than any team in the country, leading the nation in adjusted tempo. However, that offensive firepower also comes with volatility. Due to that heavy-metal style of basketball, Alabama is also giving up the most points per game in the SEC. However, the Crimson Tide are playing some of their best basketball of the season as of late. They have won four straight games and have moved into the AP Top 25. This win over a ranked Arkansas squad would really propel them to finish this regular season strong.
Arkansas has also been playing its best basketball of the season the past few weeks. The Razorbacks have won six of their past seven games. They now sit in second place in the SEC with a 9-3 conference record. Arkansas can also push the pace, ranking 25th in the nation in adjusted tempo. Arkansas can score with anyone in the country, averaging 88.8 points per game this season. The Razorbacks are led by one of the best young players in the country, freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. Acuff is playing at an incredibly high level as of late. He is averaging 26 points per game over his last six games. Acuff has also led the team in assists in 18 of its past 19 games. Overall, he has led in both points and assists in each of the past eight games.
Alabama vs. Arkansas pick
My best bet for this game is for Alabama and Arkansas to go over the total of 183.5 points. This is an intimidatingly high total, but for these teams, it should be no issue. Alabama scores the second-most points per game in the country and allows the most points per game in the SEC. Alabama leads the country in adjusted tempo and wants to play at a lightning pace. Some teams will try to slow it down to throw it off, but Arkansas has no problem getting into a track meet and trying to win that way. Alabama is averaging 94 points per game on its four-game winning streak. In the two games where it played decent competition, Texas A&M and Auburn, those teams both got into the 90s as well. This should be one of the highest scoring games of the season in college basketball, going over the total of 183.5 points.
