Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Florida Gators NCAAB Preview
Where: Exatech Arena – Gainesville, FL
When: Tuesday, March 1, 2017 – 7:00 PM ET
Line: Arkansas Razorbacks (+10.5) at Florida Gators (-10.5); total: 154.5 – view all NCAA basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN2
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Betting on the Arkansas Razorbacks (22-7, 11-5 SEC)
After a slight struggle that had them lose four out of five games, the Razorbacks are back in rhythm. They have now won five straight contests, and in that span, they are able to showcase great efforts on both sides of the court. Along with scoring 84.8 PPG, their suddenly-efficient defense only allow opponents to shoot a mediocre 41.2 percent from the field.
The most recent win was an easy 79-68 domination of Auburn. Arkansas’s top three scorers – Dusty Hannahs (14.7 PPG), Daryl Macon (13.7 PPG), and Jaylen Bradford (12.2 PPG) – led the way, as usual, highlighted by Bradford’s game-high 20 points.
Through the trio’s production, particularly since the conference games began, Arkansas is ranking second in the SEC in points (79.7 PPG) and field goal shooting (46.8 percent). The current string of Ws also have the team jumping to the 20th spot in Kenpom.com’s offensive efficiency rankings.
The Razorbacks will have a tough test ahead of them on Wednesday night. They were horrid when they last battled Florida. Although Macon had a nice outing and posted a game-high 22 points in the 81-72 loss, the rest of his teammates only shot a combined 18-for-51.
Arkansas is 7-4 SU and ATS on the road this season.
Betting on the Florida Gators (23-6, 13-3 SEC)
Point Spread: -10.5
Florida displayed bad offense and defense in their 76-66 loss to Kentucky over the weekend. They only shot 36.6 percent and had no answer for Malik Monk, who burned them for 33 points, five assists, and five threes. The defeat also snapped the Gators’ 10-game winning streak.
KeVaughn Allen (14 PPG), the team’s leading scorer, had 24 and was alone again in attacking the D. Excluding his stats, the Gators were a woeful 17-for-54 on the floor.
Allen’s two co-starters and main partners in scoring – Canyon Barry (12.2 PPG) and Devin Robinson (11.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG) – should look to have a bounce back performance on Wednesday’s contest, with both combining to shoot 4-for-18 for a quiet 12 points in the Wildcats game.
Barry posted a season-high 30 points on Valentine’s Day, but has been particularly non-existent since – 3.3 PPG on 26.7 percent shooting.
In the win over the visiting Razorbacks weeks back, Allen netted 21 points and dropped a season-high-tying five threes, while Robinson contributed 17 and swatted three shots, which also tied a season-best.
The Gators are only allowing SEC opponents to make 40.9 percent of their shots, and they also give up the fewest points (67.2 PPG), threes, and assists per game in the conference. Allen and company should have no problem recording another win at home. They are 15-2 at Stephen O’Connell Center this season (11-6 ATS).
Writer’s Prediction
Florida (-10.5) wins it, but barely fail to cover the spread, 80-71.
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