Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Oklahoma Sooners Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

Dec. 11, 2021

David Schwab
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The SEC’s No. 12 Arkansas Razorbacks are in Norman this Saturday for an early afternoon tilt against the Big 12’s Oklahoma Sooners. Tip-off from Lloyd Noble Center is set for 1:30 p.m. ET with the game’s broadcast available on ESPN2.

Score Prediction

Arkansas 77, Oklahoma 73

Best Bets

Arkansas +3.5 (-110) at Atlantis

Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Oklahoma Sooners Predictions

Arkansas comes into this game riding a straight-up nine-game winning streak. While their strength of schedule is not all that high, the Razorbacks have passed every test with relative ease. A win on Saturday would solidify their standing as one of the top teams in the nation.

The 7-2 SU Sooners turned some heads with their early play. Yet, the recent overtime loss to Butler as 11.5-point favorites raises some cause for concern. They also needed some last minute heroics to get past UCF to close out play in November.

While you would expect Oklahoma to bounce back strong at home in this matchup, it will have its hands full against an Arkansas team that is on an early roll. This will be the Razorbacks’ toughest test of the season but I believe they are more than up for the task with a SU road win.

Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Oklahoma Sooners Betting Odds

Odds Provided by DraftKings - Subject to Change

• Arkansas +1.5 (+100)
• Oklahoma -1.5 (-120)
• Over 143 (-120)
• Under 143 (+100)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Oklahoma Sooners Betting Resources

• Matchup: SEC vs. Big 12
• Date: Saturday, December 11, 2021
• Venue: Lloyd Noble Center
• Location: Norman, Oklahoma
• TV-Time: ESPN2 - 1:30 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 9-0
• ATS: 5-4
• O/U: 5-4

Arkansas’s tightest matchup during this nine-game run was against Cincinnati as a five-point favorite. It was able to cover in the 73-67 victory as part of the team’s 5-4 record against the spread. In the four games that the Razorbacks failed to cover, the closing spread was at least 19 points.

Averaging 83.3 points per game, Arkansas has five players averaging at least nine points a game. Guard JD Notae tops that list with 18.7 PPG. He is shooting 43.4% from the field but just 26.9% from three-point range.

The team’s top shooter is guard Au’Diese Toney. Averaging 13.1 points a game, he has connected on 69.5% of his shots from the field. He is also averaging 6.8 rebounds a game. The third player in double figures is guard Chris Lykes with 12.4 PPG. Forward Jaylin Williams leads the team in both rebounds (8.7) and assists (4.0).

The Razorbacks are shooting a respectable 48.1% from the field but that number drops to 28.5% from outside the three-point line. They are pulling down 40.3 rebounds a game. Defensively, Arkansas has held its opponents to an average of 67.2 PPG.

Oklahoma Sooners Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 7-2
• ATS: 4-5
• O/U: 6-3

The Sooners started the season with a SU four-game winning streak but they came up short against Utah State on Nov. 21 in a 73-70 loss as 4.5-point favorites. The biggest win on the non-conference resume was a 74-67 victory against Florida on Dec. 1 closing as slight 1.5-point underdogs. Oklahoma is 4-5 ATS with the total going OVER in six of those first nine games.

Forward Tanner Groves is the team’s biggest impact player with 14.9 points and 6.2 rebounds a game. The only other player scoring in double figures is guard Umoja Gibson with 11.3 PPG. Guard Jordan Goldwire is third on that list with 9.4 PPG while shooting 48.5% from the field.

Forward Jalen Hill and guard Elijah Harkless round out Oklahoma’s starting five on a team that is averaging 74.1 points and 34.8 rebounds a game. Harkless recently hit the game-winning jumper against UFC.

The Sooners are shooting 49.4% from the field with a 32.9 shooting percentage from three-point range. While Arkansas gets the clear edge in scoring, Oklahoma’s defense is only allowing an average of 60.9 points a game.

Arkansas has won nine straight games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Arkansas Razorbacks

• Record: 9-0
• VI Ranking: 7
• PS/G: 83.3 (21st)
• PA/G: 67.2 (156th)
• ORtg: 113.1 (33rd)
• DRtg: 91.3 (90th)

Inside the Stats - Oklahoma Sooners

• Record: 7-2
• VI Ranking: 26
• PS/G: 74.1 (138th)
• PA/G: 60.9 (47th)
• ORtg: 106.4 (111th)
• DRtg: 87.4 (38th)

Key Players to Watch

• ARK: JD Notae - G (18.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
• ARK: Au'Diese Toney - G (13.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
• OU: Tanner Groves - F (14.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
• OU: Umoja Gibson - G (11.3 ppg)

Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Oklahoma Sooners Betting Conclusion

This is a very intriguing matchup between a pair of majors that do have a history against one another. The last meeting was in 2017 with Arkansas coming away with the 92-83 road win as a two-point underdog.

While I do not see that many points being scored this time around, I am expected the same result with the Razorbacks winning on the road. The Sooners still have the overall edge over 11 previous meetings at 7-4 SU and 8-3 ATS. The total has gone OVER in three of the last four meetings.

Arkansas has won four of its last five road games both SU and ATS with the total going OVER in all five games. It is an even 10-10 ATS over its last 20 games played on the road. Oklahoma is 15-5 SU with an 11-9 record ATS in its last 20 home games. However, it has failed to cover the closing spread in six of its last eight games at home.

Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Oklahoma Sooners Betting Trends

• Arkansas has won nine straight games.
• Oklahoma has gone OVER the point total in six of its last eight games.
• Oklahoma has failed to cover the spread in five of its last eight games when playing as the favorite.

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