Following a three-day hiatus, college basketball is back with Sweet 16 action in the NCAA Tournament. And it’s back with a bang, too, as a showdown between the No. 4 seed Arkansas Razorbacks and No. 1 seed Arizona Wildcats should be must-see television (9:45 pm ET on CBS). The winner of this West Region battle at the SAP Center in San Jose, California will face either Purdue or Texas in the Elite Eight.
Here are my Arkansas vs. Arizona predictions.
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Arizona Wildcats odds
Money line: Arkansas +285 / Arizona -370
Spread: Arkansas +8 (-112) / Arizona -8 (-112)
Total: Over 164.5 (-115) / Under 164.5 (-105)
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Arizona Wildcats best bet #1: Arkansas +8 (-112)
As good as Arizona is, eight points may be too much. The Wildcats are in fine form, but they beat Iowa State by just two points in the Big 12 Tournament semis and Houston by five in the final. Now they run into an Arkansas squad that is every bit as hot. The Razorbacks won the SEC Tournament and since the end of January have lost only to 2025 National Champion Florida and fellow Sweet 16 entrant Alabama in overtime. Arkansas star freshman Darius Acuff Jr. will be the best player on the floor in this matchup — and that’s saying a lot. Acuff is averaging 23.3 points and 6.5 assists per game this season. The point guard has been especially on fire of late, currently riding a six-game streak with 24 points or more –including 37 in the SEC quarterfinals, 30 in the conference final, and 36 against High Point in round two of the NCAA Tournament.
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Arizona Wildcats best bet #2: Koa Peat Over 14.5 points (-112)
This should be a favorable matchup for Peat. Arkansas is decent on defense at the perimeter, but for the most part it is a unit that can be dissected — especially in the paint. The Hogs find themselves in just the 15th percentile in rim defense; they are also 275th nationally in two-point percentage defense. Peat’s game is predicated on getting to the basket. The 6’8” forward has gone five straight games without attempting a three-pointer and he has not made one since January 31. Despite that, Peat has scored at least 14 points in three consecutive outings — including 21 in the Big 12 final against Houston and 25 in the regular-season finale against Colorado. The freshman should have a field day in the paint on Thursday.