Conference play is finally here for LSU’s men’s basketball team in the first season under coach Matt McMahon.
The Tigers enter this one with an impressive 11-1 record on the season, but this will be their toughest test of the season so far as they host the Arkansas Razorbacks, who are led by fourth-year coach Eric Musselman.
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The Razorbacks are a top-10 team in the nation by practically all metrics. They rank No. 9 in the polls and No. 10 in the NET, and they have two Quadrant 1 wins on the year against San Diego State and Oklahoma. The lone loss came by three points against Creighton.
Musselman has built this team into a national power, taking Arkansas to back-to-back Elite Eights, and McMahon will look to pull of a huge upset before his team hits the road to take on Kentucky and Texas A&M.
Here’s everything you need to know to follow this one, which tips off at 8 p.m. CT at the PMAC, including the latest betting odds from BetMGM.
Here are the latest lines:
| Team | Spread | Total – O/U | Money Line |
| Arkansas | -4.5 -105 |
O 143.5 -105 |
-190 |
| LSU | +4.5 -115 |
U 143.5 -115 |
+155 |
Click here to place your bets at BetMGM.
Mwani Wilkinson is questionable for this game after he missed the previous two contests for unknown reasons.
LSU
- Points – F KJ Williams (19.3 PPG)
- Rebounds – F KJ Williams (8.2RPG)
- Assists – G Justice Hill (4.2 APG)
- Steals – F KJ Williams (1.7 SPG)
- Blocks – F KJ Williams (0.9 BPG)
Arkansas
- Points – G Ricky Council IV (18.3 PPG)
- Rebounds – F Trevon Brazile (6.0 RPG)
- Assists – G Anthony Black (3.7 APG)
- Steals – G Anthony Black (1.4 SPG)
- Blocks – F Makhi Mitchell (1.3 BPG)
LSU is just 4-8 against the spread on the year, but it has also only been an underdog twice, covering or pushing in each. Perhaps this game will continue that trend. Unfortunately, this Razorbacks team is quite a bit more talented than either of LSU’s previous power conference opponents in Kansas State and Wake Forest. Musselman is one of the sport’s premier coaches, and even at home, I wouldn’t feel great betting on the Tigers in this one, though I do think it will be relatively close.
Prediction: Arkansas 71, LSU 65
Advice: Arkansas (-4.5)/Under 143.5
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