12:03 pm
January 2

#12 Missouri @ Arkansas

Who will WIN this matchup?

#12 Missouri Tigers (6-1)

@ Arkansas Razorbacks (9-0)

 

Current odds:

Missouri Tigers: (+230)

Arkansas Razorbacks: (-280)

 

•  The line for this game is Arkansas by 6.5 points.

•  The unbeaten Arkansas Razorbacks will continue their bid for national rankings when they host No. 12 Missouri on Saturday. The Razorbacks (9-0) opened their Southeastern Conference schedule with an impressive 97-85 victory at Auburn on Wednesday night. That upgraded their profile after they swept an easy non-conference slate of eight home games against schools from lesser conferences.

•  Missouri (6-1) enjoyed surprising success outside of the SEC, upsetting nationally ranked Oregon at a neutral site Dec. 2 before toppling Big Ten power Illinois at home Dec. 12. But the Tigers opened conference play with an ugly 73-53 loss to No. 7 Tennessee at home.

•  Arkansas’ smallest margin of victory this season has been 11 points. But despite being untested previously, the Razorbacks withstood Auburn’s second-half push to close out their victory. Arkansas was able to finish off Auburn despite losing starting power forward Justin Smith to a first-half ankle injury. Smith, who is averaging 11.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, is questionable for the Missouri game. “I don’t really know, but obviously he was in a boot,” Musselman said. “But it’s next man up. Hopefully he’ll do some rehab and I don’t know what the docs will say once we get home.”

•  Arkansas has plenty of other offensive options with Moses Moody (16.8 points per game), JD Notae (15.0), Desi Sills (14.1) and Jalen Tate (10.1) also scoring in double figures this season.

•  Missouri will be trying to get back into gear offensively after the Tigers scored just 107 points in their past two games. They missed 13-of-16 shots from three-point range against Tennessee after missing 18-of-21 in their previous game, a 54-53 victory over Bradley.

•  They have tried to push the pace this season, led by speedy guard Xavier Pinson — who is averaging a team-best 13.9 points. But their offense has bogged down in their half-court sets due to the lack of movement with and without the ball.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Arkansas Razorbacks
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