Wesley Hitt/Getty Images. Pictured: Arkansas’ Justin Smith throws it down.
Texas Tech vs. Arkansas Odds
| Projected Spread | Arkansas -1.1 | |
| Projected Total | 137.66 | |
| Projected ML | -106/-116 | |
| Time | TBA | |
| TV | TBA | |
| Projected odds based on our initial PRO Projections. Odds will be added once they’re released. | ||
Arkansas survived an initial scare to top Colgate in the NCAA Tournament first round, while Texas Tech used its stifling defense to top Utah State.
We project Arkansas as just a small favorite in the Round of 32 in a clash of two teams with opposing styles.
How Texas Tech & Arkansas Match Up
| Texas Tech | vs. | Arkansas |
| 316 | Tempo | 17 |
| 187 | eFG% | 95 |
| 45 | TO% | 94 |
| 30 | OR% | 63 |
| 19 | FTR | 145 |
| 69 | DeFG% | 62 |
| 8 | DTO% | 86 |
| 254 | DR% | 109 |
| 286 | DFTR | 117 |
| All stats via KenPom. | ||
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What To Know About Texas Tech
Chris Beard has made Texas Tech a perennial contender in March, and this season is no different. Despite the double-digit losses, the Red Raiders rank 22nd in KenPom’s efficiency rankings while controlling the game at the nation’s 316th-ranked tempo. Tech is led offensively by Georgetown transfer Mac McClung, who is averaging 15.7 points per game on high-volume shooting. Bettors will have been frustrated by the Red Raiders’ 11-17 mark against the spread, and they lost four of their last seven regular-season games.
Texas Tech has proven, though, that it is a force to be reckoned with in March. Beard is a master in-game adjuster and his no-middle defense could give certain teams fits. Tech has its coach’s personality. It will battle relentlessly for 40 minutes and get on the floor for everything. The perimeter defense is a major question mark, as well as the offense when they aren’t getting to the line or grabbing an offensive board. — Matt Trebby
What To Know About Arkansas
The knock on Arkansas through late January was the lack of Quadrant 1 victories. Since then, the Razorbacks have won 11 straight regular-season conference games and are led by the most ebullient head coach in Division I, Eric Musselman.
The coaching job has been an absolute masterpiece after losing two stars to the NBA in Mason Jones and Isaiah Joe. Musselman gets the most out of a roster that entered the season 339th in minutes continuity. The Hogs have been one of the best in the SEC in ball security and continually increased productivity in the paint with the return of Justin Smith from injury in mid-January. The season-long statistics do not do the Razorbacks justice for how efficient they have been over their nine-game winning streak leading up to the SEC semifinals since they got fully healthy.
Freshman Moses Moody was named to the First Team All-SEC, with Smith being named to the Second Team.
How scorching is Razorback basketball? Per Torvik, only Illinois has more wins above bubble in the nation since Feb. 1. There really are no glaring holes for the speedy Hogs who deserve to be in the conversation as a potential Final Four team. — Collin Wilson