Arkansas Razorbacks at LSU Tigers
Saturday, 2/4/12, 1:45 PM EST, TV: ESPN3
Opening Point Spread: LSU -3.5
Current Betting Line: LSU -4
Opening Total: 133.5
Current Total: 136
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Arkansas has won three of its last four games and comes off a superb effort in capturing an 82-74 decision against the Vanderbilt Commodores last time out. The Razorbacks have also gone “over” the total in two consecutive affairs. Offensively, the team nailed nine three-pointers versus one of the best perimeter defenses in the nation, but still allowed Vanderbilt to shoot 50 percent from the floor and forced just 11 turnovers. Arkansas is 7-16 ATS on the road the last two-plus seasons.
The Razorbacks really need to pick up some wins away from Bud Walton Arena, dropping all three Southeastern road games up to this point. Arkansas has dropped all five games overall on an opponent’s home floor. “I am disappointed in losing,” commented Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson about the situation. “They will learn. They are young.” Sophomore guard Rickey Scott has really come on offensively, scoring in double figures five times, while pouring in 18 points versus the Commodores.
LSU has really seen its 2011-12 campaign slip away of late, dropping five of six games, with the only win coming in overtime over the Auburn Tigers on Jan. 17. The Tigers have gone “over” the total in five of their last seven games, while coming off a 74-50 blowout loss to the Kentucky Wildcats as 10-point home underdogs. “We just stopped fighting and stopped competing in the second half,” stated Tigers head coach Trent Johnson. LSU will be seeking revenge from a 69-60 defeat to Arkansas as five-point road underdogs on Jan. 14. LSU is 4-3 ATS as a favorite this season.
The Tigers have won the last three meetings in this series when playing in Baton Rouge, including a 56-53 victory as 2.5-point home underdogs on Jan. 12, 2011. LSU is averaging 66.4 points per game and is surrendering 62.8 points a contest. The scoring margin of +3.6 is a massive improvement from the two previous years, which resulted in -4.4 and -4.9 margins. Freshman point guard Anthony Hickey must have a big game on the perimeter in order to pick up a victory Saturday, as he’s managed to hit 48.4 percent of his shots from three-point range during SEC action.
Bettors will likely back the Razorbacks due to their 9-2-1 ATS mark in the last 12 meetings in the series, while the Tigers are 0-5 ATS when coming off a loss of 20 points or more.
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