Arkansas faces its largest nonconference test today as it takes on No. 14 Michigan in Madison Square Garden for the Jimmy V Classic.
High-major nonconference opponents haven’t made life easy for the Razorbacks this season. Baylor and Illinois made quick work of Arkansas in their respective matchups. Miami led the Hogs up to the last 1:45 of the game, and except for Baylor, Arkansas struggled to defend the three-point line. Michigan will be a completely different test.
The Wolverines are average from distance but excellent in the paint. They rotate two 7-footers who average 12 or more points and nearly two blocks per game. They dominate the board, grabbing a combined 15 rebounds a game. For a team that struggles from deep, it could be an issue for Arkansas.
The Razorbacks’ biggest scoring threat, Adou Thiero, loves to drive to the basket, but with two elite rim protectors, that’ll be hard to accomplish. However, with Zvonimir Ivisic able to stretch the floor, it could open the paint for better looks at the basket.
Still, the newly formed Razorbacks might struggle to overcome a Michigan team finding its stride. To see whether Arkansas can pull off the upset, here’s how you can watch:
Odds courtesy of FanDuel.com
Spread: -3.5 Michigan
Arkansas Moneyline: +142
Michigan Moneyline: -172
Over/Under: 148.5
