Could Elite Roberts become the first No. 15 seed to reach Elite Eight?
The Golden Eagles will have that chance in the South Zone semi-final matchup against No. 3 Arkansas. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:25 pm Saturday at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game will be broadcast on TBS.
Arkansas (24-6) is the first since 16 in the Sweet since 1996 under second-year coach Eric Musselman. The Razorbacks scored Texas Tech 68–66 in the round of 32. Arkansas average 82 points per game, so they would be more than comfortable in a high scoring matchup.
Oral Roberts (17-10) averaged 81.5 points under fourth-year coach Pell Mills, and he used a high-volume shooting philosophy to defeat Ohio State and Florida in the tournament’s first weekend.
Here’s everything to know about placing bets on Arkansas vs. Oral Roberts in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, including updated odds, trends and our prediction for the Sweet 16 game.
More Points: Live Score | Updated bracket | TV schedule
Arkansas vs Oral Roberts Odds
- Spread: Arkansas-11.5
- over under: 159
- money Line: Arkansas -620, Oral Roberts +460
Three betting trends to watch
– Oral Roberts is 8–2 ATS in his final 10 matches, and he struck out in seven of those games.
– The Golden Eagles are 11-3 ATS as underdogs this season. He has covered his last five matches as an underdog.
– Arkansas has 15-6-1 ATS as a favorite this season, but this drop to 3-4 ATS when the spread is more than 10 points.
Arkansas Key Players
Moses Moody, a 6-6 guard, leads the Razorbacks with 17.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, but he is not the only scoring option. Forward Justin Smith had 20 points in a win against Texas Tech, and guards Jalan Tate and Devon Davis also averaged double digits. Guard JD Notae is a super sub that averages 13.1 ppg. And two assists.
Oral Roberts Key Players
Max Emas, a 6-1 guard, leads the nation with 24.5 points per game. He will miss Arkansas fans of Alexus Dillard, a key player on the 1994 national championship team, with his three-point shooting range. Junior forward Kevin Obnor averages 19 ppg. And 9.6 rpg. Ebmas and Obner combined for 113 points in the Golden Eagles’ two tournament victories. This is 60.8 percent of aggressive production.
Best Individual Matchup: Kevin Obanor vs Justin Smith
Guard play on both teams is strong, but this internal matchup will be important. Obanor was a force against Buckeye and the Gators, and both players were active on the offensive glass. Obanor has fouled four times this season, but cannot afford to foul trouble in this game. Arkansas could test that early with Smith on the block.
Arkansas vs Oral Roberts State to know
Oral Roberts scored an average of 63.5 shots in wins against Ohio State and Florida and included 70 shot attempts against Buckeye. Arkansas, however, is set to play that game. The Razorbacks rank sixth in the nation with 64.7 shot attempts per game. Colgate and Texas Tech tried to slow down the Razorbacks.
Get to know … Jalan Tate
Tate, a Northern Kentucky transfer whose older brother Jas Seanian plays for the Houston Rockets, is playing an important role for Arkansas this season. The 6-6 guard is versatile in point and wing, and he is likely to be used in an effort to slow down Abs, who hits 43.6 percent of his 3-point attempts. Arkansas is 15–2 when the Tate score is double digits. He can be the X-Factor.
Arkansas vs Oral Roberts Prediction
This could be the highest scoring game of the Sweet 16 round, with both teams wanting to play at that pace. The Razorbacks have scored 10 or more points nine times this season, but they are 8–1 behind in those games. Hot shooting does not matter. Obor would need to control the game at both ends to give Oral Roberts a chance, but Arkansas would move to the Elite Eight in the second half.
final score: Arkansas 86, Oral Roberts 72
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