The Arkansas Razorbacks (15-15, 6-11 SEC) will play their final game of the season against the No. 16 Alabama Crimson Tide (20-10, 12-5 SEC) on Saturday inside Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Led by fifth-year head coach Nate Oats, the Crimson Tide have lost two straight games over Tennessee and Florida. Alabama has also beaten Auburn, South Carolina and Oregon already this season.
Arkansas is coming off a 94-83 win over the LSU Tigers and it might be playing its best basketball thanks to a connection formed throughout the season.
"We’ve had good practices, we really have," head coach Eric Musselman said. "We’ve had some bad moments in games. The Vanderbilt eight minute stretch, we played bad. Our practices and fortunately the TV crews get to watch those practices, this team works man. I like coaching them. Wish the record was better. We’ve had some games where the score got away from us and we probably didn’t compete like we hoped. But we’re getting better.
"I don’t know what’s going to happen in the SEC Tournament, I don’t know what’s going to happen — we have two games guaranteed right now. I know I’m looking forward to coaching them Thursday, Friday and heading into that locker room out on the floor in Alabama with this team. I think that this team is continuing to gain respect among other teams in our league. I get texts from other coaches and people around the league that we’re playing better basketball. It’s hard to do when you’re sitting around .500 or whatever."
This will be the 79th meeting between Arkansas and LSU, and it will be the 69th since the Razorbacks joined the SEC. Arkansas leads the all-time series, 42-36, and is 38-31 against the Tigers since joining the SEC. Arkansas has won four of the last six overall and leads the series in games played in Fayetteville, 23-8.
The Razorbacks own a 36-32 advantage in the series but the series is tied 29-29 in SEC meetings. The home team has dominated the series. Arkansas is 20-7 versus Alabama in Fayetteville but the Crimson Tide is 22-8 in games played in Tuscaloosa (21-8 in SEC games).
Here's details on how to watch/listen, betting lines courtesy of BetSaracen and HawgBeat's pick:
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How to Watch/Listen
Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (15-15, 6-11 SEC) vs Alabama Crimson Tide (20-10, 12-5 SEC)
When: Saturday – March 9 – 11:00 am (CT)
Where: Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Coleman Coliseum (13,474)
TV/Stream: ESPN/Watch ESPN (Tom Hart and Jimmy Dykes)
Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
Sirius/XM: 381 Sirius / 381 XM / 971 SXM App
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SPREAD/TOTALS:
Moneyline:
Arkansas: +750
Alabama: -1400
Spread:
Arkansas: +14.5 (-105)
Alabama: -14.5 (-115)
Totals:
Total Points:
OVER 173.5 (-115)
UNDER 173.5 (-105)
Team Totals:
Arkansas OVER 79.5 (-110)
Arkansas UNDER 79.5 (-120)
Alabama OVER 94.5 (-115)
Alabama UNDER 94.5 (-115)
(Alternate lines, spreads and team totals are available on the BetSaracen mobile app.)
(Lines and odds are subject to change at any point after the publishing of this story. HawgBeat does not guarantee any bet as a winner or loser. You must be at least 21 years of age to use BetSaracen. If you have a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net)
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HAWGBEAT'S PICK: Arkansas +14.5 (-105)
I'm finally giving in and taking the spread for the Razorbacks. Alabama has an incredibly lethal offense, but Arkansas is red-hot behind Khalif Battle and Tramon Mark. Musselman takes games personally when he plays Oats, so I think he'll have an ace up his sleeve to make this a competitive game.
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