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Vanderbilt vs. Arkansas Prediction and Odds: Back Razorbacks at Home

By Matt De Saro

Despite hitting a rough patch, the Arkansas Razorbacks are one of the better teams in the SEC and have a chance to prove it against Vanderbilt.
Despite hitting a rough patch, the Arkansas Razorbacks are one of the better teams in the SEC and have a chance to prove it against Vanderbilt. / Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
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With conference play well underway for some time now, the Vanderbilt Commodores will see their first SEC action of the season tonight against the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Commodores hit a rough patch early in the season, losing three in a row to the likes of SMU, Temple and Loyola-Chicago. However, since that stumble, Vandy is on a three-game win streak heading into Tuesday night. 

On the flip side, the Razorbacks looked to be one of the teams to beat in the SEC after starting the year off with a 9-0 tear. While their success in the conference is still very much on the table, Arkansas has lost three of their last four games. This includes their SEC opener against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. 

Can Arkansas bounce back and pull even in the SEC or can Vanderbilt continue to play with a hot hand and pull off an upset win here?

Here are the odds for this SEC showdown, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Vanderbilt vs. Arkansas Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

  • Vanderbilt +7.5 (-110)
  • Arkansas -7.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

  • Vanderbilt +240
  • Arkansas -310

Total:

  • 144 (Over -110/Under -110)

Vanderbilt vs. Arkansas and Pick

Not only has Vanderbilt been on a tear lately, but it has been doing it as and underdog as well in some cases. The Commodores beat BYU 69-67 as five-point underdogs in their last game out and could once again play above their level and eke out an underdog win.

The team has now covered in six of their last nine games. One big knock on the Commodores is their weakness at shooting the ball. Yet, the Commodores continue to win games despite shooting less than 30 percent from deep and rank 259th in adjusted offensive efficiency.

Now, they will face Arkansas' defense that ranks 71st in the nation in terms of efficiency. The Commodores are led by Scottie Pippen Jr., the preseason SEC Player of the Year, but without a junior Air Jordan at his side, I don’t think Pippen’s 18.1 points per game will be enough to get his team over the hump here. 

The Razorbacks have beaten the Commodores in their last seven contests in a row. Additionally, Arkansas covered the spread in six of those seven games. I think the Razorbacks continue that streak tonight.

Vanderbilt might be the hotter team right now, but on paper, they are not the better team overall.

Arkansas will present a challenge the likes of which have not been seen by the Commodores so far this season.

This game will be even harder for them should guard JD Notae suit up. As of now, he is still questionable with an illness. However, head coach Eric Musselman said that Notae did return to practice over the weekend. Even without Notae, the Razorbacks are a far more experienced team, especially in the backcourt. 

Pick: Arkansas Razorbacks -7.5 (-110)

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