The LSU Tigers are set to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in SEC College Basketball action today. The game is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN. Currently the College Basketball Betting Odds for the game have the Razorbacks favored by a couple of buckets to get the win.
Arkansas is a very good basketball team and in most years, they'd be contending for an SEC title. But with Kentucky dominating the college basketball landscape it's made the rest of the SEC seem pretty pedestrian in comparison. The Hogs have a record of 13-4 in conference action with losses to Tennessee, Ole Miss, Florida and Kentucky. Those types of losses are going to happen to normal teams in conference play, but at least they'd have chance at a potential title.
LSU comes in with a 21-9 record on the season, but they haven't played Arkansas yet. The Hogs at home are very tough to beat, having won 17 of their 18 games there this season. Ole Miss has been the only team to beat Arkansas on its own floor this season and they poured on 96 points in that one.
There will be some star power in today's game as LSU boasts a pair of double-double machines in Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey. They both average better than 16 points a game and nine rebounds and are a matchup nightmare for many teams. Arkansas has a pair of stars as well with Bobby Portis and Michael Qualls — who combined are averaging 33 points and nearly 14 rebounds per game.
The team that gets the best from its stars might not win, but note that Arkansas is going to want to push the pace in this one and get the game going fast. The Hogs are at their best when they are running the floor, moving it in transition and scoring tons of points. Arkansas averages better than 79 points a game, the 10th best mark in the country. LSU can score points as well, but they're a team that averages just under 74 per contest. If this game gets into an up and down transition battle, the Hogs certainly have the advantage.
The Hogs already have the second seed in the SEC Tournament locked up, yet they haven't won the tournament since the 2000 season. On a neutral floor they might have a shot against Kentucky, but picking up a win over LSU should be the only thing that matters today.
Free Pick: Arkansas 80, LSU 72
$25 of picks FREE! No Obligation - No Credit Card Required - Becoming a member is Fast and Free!
Get more Free Picks from the Pregame Pros HERE.
Be sure and check out Pregame.tv every week for our videos that include handicapping tips, Webinars, analysis and Free Plays.