7:25 pm
March 27

NCAA Tournament South Region: #15 Oral Roberts v. #3 Arkansas

Who will WIN this matchup?

#15 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (18-10)

#3 Arkansas Razorbacks (24-6)

 

Current odds:

Oral Roberts Golden Eagles: (+500)

Arkansas Razorbacks: (-700)

 

• The line for this game is Arkansas by 11.5 points.

• Even in an NCAA Tournament riddled with upsets, Oral Roberts’ run through the first two rounds stands out. With their 81-78 second-round victory over the seventh-seeded Florida Gators that followed their win over second-seeded Ohio State, the Eagles became only the second No. 15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16. Oral Roberts (18-10) remains confident — and defiant — as it heads into its next matchup against third-seeded Arkansas (24-6) on Saturday night in a South Region semifinal in Indianapolis.

• The Eagles have a chance to become the first No. 15 seed to advance to the Elite Eight, and must beat a familiar foe to do so. The Razorbacks, who edged sixth-seeded Texas Tech 68-66 in the second round, defeated Oral Roberts 87-76 at home in Fayetteville on Dec. 20. Forward Kevin Obanor had 21 points and 10 rebounds in that game and was one of five Eagles who scored in double figures.

• But Oral Roberts couldn’t contain Arkansas forward Justin Smith, who totaled 22 points and 17 rebounds. Guard Desi Sills had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Moses Moody finished with 18 points and seven rebounds as the Razorbacks used their size to crush the Eagles on the glass 58-32.

• Obanor totaled 28 points and 11 rebounds in Sunday’s win over Florida while Oral Roberts’ leading scorer Max Abmas had 26 points and seven assists and shot a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line.

• Jaylin Williams, a 6-foot-10 forward, started in Arkansas’ win over Texas Tech, marking the first time he was in the starting lineup with Moody and Davis this season. Williams scored only one point, but collected 10 rebounds as he started in place of 7-3 center Connor Vanover, as Musselman went with a smaller, quicker lineup. Smith led Arkansas with 20 points while Moody and Davis each had 15 points.

• The Razorbacks are making their first appearance in the Sweet 16 since 1996. Arkansas won its lone national title in 1994 and finished as the runner-up in 1995.

7/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#3 Arkansas Razorbacks
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