UConn vs Arkansas Pick – Basketball Predictions & Odds 3/23/23

The Arkansas Razorbacks and UConn Huskies meet Thursday in the college basketball NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 at the T-Mobile Arena. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

The Arkansas Razorbacks are averaging 74.8 points on 47.5 percent shooting and allowing 67.2 points on 41.7 percent shooting. Ricky Council IV is averaging 16.1 points and 3.6 rebounds, while Nick Smith Jr. is averaging 12.6 points and 1.8 assists. Anthony Black is the third double-digit scorer and Trevon Brazile is grabbing 6 rebounds. The Arkansas Razorbacks are shooting 32.1 percent from beyond the arc and 69 percent from the free throw line. The Arkansas Razorbacks are allowing 30.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.5 rebounds per game.

The UConn Huskies are averaging 79 points on 45.9 percent shooting and allowing 64.8 points on 40.8 percent shooting. Adama Sanogo is averaging 17.1 points and 7.4 rebounds, while Jordan Hawkins is averaging 16 points and 1.3 assists. Tristen Newton is the third double-digit scorer and Alex Karaban is grabbing 4.3 rebounds. The UConn Huskies are shooting 35.6 percent from beyond the arc and 75.8 percent from the free throw line. The UConn Huskies are allowing 29.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 36.1 rebounds per game.

The Arkansas Razorbacks deserve credit, as they’re a physical, feisty team that’s a tough out and is sure to apply pressure on the Huskies guards and make things difficult. You can’t overlook Arkansas anymore after taking it to Kansas over the weekend. With that said, I still believe UConn is the more talented team and its inside / outside game isn’t something I’m stepping in front of right now. The UConn Huskies are clicking offensively and there are a lot of options on this team that have to be riding high on confidence. At one point I said UConn was the best team in the country and through 2 games, it’s making a case for being in that conversation again.

I’ll lay the small chalk.