Arkansas Razorbacks at No. 10 Connecticut Huskies
Saturday, 12/3/11, 3:15 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Connecticut -12.5
Current Betting Line: Connecticut -13
Opening Total: 143
Current Total: 143
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Arkansas faces its toughest test to date Saturday and rides in on a three-game winning streak after tallying a 97-64 win over Mississippi Valley State in a non-lined contest. The Razorbacks had five players score in double figures led by sophomore Mardracus Wade, who tallied a career high 20 points. “Playing at Connecticut is an awful big challenge for our basketball team,” commented Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson. It will be the first trip out of the state of Arkansas for the team. Over the last two-plus years, the program has covered both opportunities as a road underdog of 12.5 to 15 points.
The Razorbacks will be taking part in the SEC-Big East Challenge for a second straight year, posting a 71-62 win over the Seton Hall Pirates in the event a year ago. Arkansas is averaging 83.7 points per game and winning by an average of 19.5 points a contest. From a handicapping perspective, the program will be playing the defending national champion for the 18th time, posting a 3-14 record in the previous tries. The highly touted freshman class of four players have combined for 199 points in the first six games.
Connecticut walked away with a 78-76 overtime win over the Florida State Seminoles in the consolation game of a tournament in the Bahamas. The Huskies were led by the play of sophomore guard Shabazz Napier, scoring a career-high 26 points and hitting six three-pointers. He joins All-American candidate Jeremy Lamb to form one of the best scoring duos in the country. Lamb has already topped the 20-point mark four times this season, while the entire roster was pleased with freshman guard Ryan Boatright’s debut, scoring 14 points and dishing out three assists in 33 minutes. Connecticut is 2-8 ATS as a home favorite of 12.5 or more points the last two-plus years.
The Huskies are 15-5 against SEC opponents under the direction of head coach Jim Calhoun, including a 3-0 mark last year. Connecticut gets set to play inside the XL Center for the 302nd time against a team outside the Big East, posting a 220-81 mark in those contests. It’s also important to note that the program has tallied a 165-4 mark at home in November and December during his time on the bench versus non-conference opponents.
Bettors will likely back the Huskies due to their 8-1 ATS mark following a spread win, while the Razorbacks are 2-6 ATS versus the Big East.
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