Auburn vs Arkansas Prediction: Can the Razorbacks Advance to Quarterfinals in SEC Tournament?

Auburn vs Arkansas Prediction: Can the Razorbacks Advance to Quarterfinals in SEC Tournament?

Many selected Arkansas as their dark horse for 2023 after years of continuous improvement. Unfortunately, it has been an injury-riddled season for the Razorbacks. Trevon Brazile went down early in the season, and Arkansas was missing their offensive sparkplug for the first two-thirds of the year. Nick Smith Jr. is now back, and Arkansas has one more chance to prove they were deserving of all the preseason hype.

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Auburn vs Arkansas Start Time, Where to Watch, and odds

• Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023
• Start Time: 7:00 pm ET
• Where to Watch: SECN

Click here for Auburn vs Arkansas odds

Auburn vs Arkansas Prediction

We certainly aren’t used to Auburn and Arkansas being the 7th and 10th seeds in the SEC tournament. These have been some of the best teams in the SEC in recent history. Both teams haven’t lived up to their standards; Auburn was abnormally average at home this season, and Arkansas had a losing record in conference play. Which underperforming SEC tournament sleeper will come out victorious tonight?

When these teams faced off in January, Auburn blew the doors off the Muss Bus, beating Arkansas by 13 and holding them to only 59 points. Don’t expect Auburn to put up the same defensive performance away from home tonight. I’m sure the Razorbacks have had this game circled on their calendar since the tournament brackets dropped. Arkansas is the hungrier team looking to take advantage of the end-of-season “restart” as the regular season chapter ends and conference tourneys begin.

Auburn’s offensive production essentially comes from two players: Johni Broome and Wendell Green Jr. Broome has stepped up since a slow start to the season coming over from Morehead State but will face a tough test tonight in the Mitchell brothers. Makhi and Makhel Mitchell transferred in from Rhode Island this season and are big enough to restrain Broome from a legacy performance. Wendell Green, the only consistent piece for Bruce Pearl’s Tigers, will have his hands full tonight as well. Green will be matched up with one of Arkansas’ athletic guards, all of who tower over Green. If it's the freshman Nick Smith Jr. covering the star Tiger, he’s got 6 inches on him. Green will struggle to produce against the bigger physical Arkansas backcourt.

Arkansas opened up as a short underdog when the line dropped last night. The Razorbacks have been steamed up to -3.5 at some books, with some crazy line movement. I’ve never seen spreads and totals move this much and react to the market as much as we’ve seen this week. Typically when a line moves this much, it’s for good reason. Yesterday we took advantage of chasing early stream and hopping on teams like Richmond and Ohio State, who closed much heavier favorites compared to where they opened. Don’t be afraid to chase some steam and climb aboard the Muss Bus tonight against Bruce Pearl and his Tigers.

Auburn vs Arkansas Pick

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