The last weekend of the 2021-22 college basketball regular season is upon us, as teams make their last bids for seeding in their conference tournaments. Last weekend, we saw seven of the top 10 ranked teams in the nation fall, so it will be interesting to see what this weekend brings. As you consider your NCAA College Basketball Odds for the weekend, keep these matchups in mind.
NCAA News: Top Betting Games for the Weekend
Saturday, March 5
#14 Arkansas at #13 Tennessee (12:00 pm ET, ESPN)
The Razorbacks ride a five-game winning streak into their regular season finale at Tennessee, a team that they beat by ten in a 58-48 defensive struggle a couple of weeks ago. Their one-point loss at Alabama was their sole setback in their last 15 games, but that almost became two losses in a one-point squeaker against LSU on Wednesday. In that win, J.D. Notae made two free throws with just 8.6 seconds left on the clock to give the Razorbacks a one-point lead, but Xavier Pinson still had a shot at the rim with the clock expiring for LSU, but he missed, and the Hogs held on. Stanley Umude was the top scorer for Arkansas with 23 points. Notae was held to 12 despite averaging 19.1 points per game, but he did chip in seven boards and five assists.
Tennessee would love to avenge that showing at Arkansas where they only managed 48 points. The Volunteers have just lost twice in their last 13 games; the other loss was a one-point setback at Texas when Tennessee only managed 51 points. Since losing to Arkansas, the Volunteers have beaten Missouri, Auburn and Georgia in succession, with the home win over Auburn being a signature accomplishment. The win at Georgia featured a shaky start, as the teams went into the locker room tied at 35 and came out with Georgia taking an early lead. After that, Tennessee figured things out; Josiah-Jordan James led the way with a career-best 23 points, including a pair of back-to-back three-balls that gave the Volunteers back the lead. Kennedy Chandler had 16 points and four steals. Even when Tennessee moved to a 15-point lead, though, they could not close out the game easily. How will they do with Arkansas coming to town?
Final Score Prediction:
Arkansas 70, Tennessee 68
Indiana at #8 Purdue (2:00 pm ET, ESPN)
Indiana had turned around a five-game losing streak with a home win over Maryland and a win at Minnesota, but then they became the latest victim of a surprising Rutgers team, losing at home, 66-63, on Wednesday. The Hoosiers had a seven-point lead at halftime, but then they could not hold off the Scarlet Knights’ offense in the second half, giving up a three to Ron Harper Jr with 2.1 seconds remaining. Trayce Jackson-Davis had 19 points – but 15 came in the first half, and he added nine boards. Xavier Johnson chipped in 13 points, and Race Thompson scored a dozen. It will be interesting to see if the Hoosiers’ defense can stiffen for an entire game as they head to Purdue to face a Boilermakers team that was among the top-ten upset victims last weekend.
Purdue has had a dreadful week, losing at Michigan State and then losing at Wisconsin on Wednesday, as the Badgers swooped in and took at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season title away from the Boilermakers in a 70-67 squeaker. Freshman Chucky Hepburn banked in a three-ball with 1.5 seconds remaining to turn a tie into a three-point win. Wisconsin would clinch the title outright with a home win over Nebraska on Sunday. For Purdue, Zach Edey put up 17 points, and Sasha Stefanovic added 11, with Jaden Ivey leading the way with 22 points. Ivey and Edey scored all of Purdue’s final 28 points, but they could not get help, and now they find themselves limping into the Big Ten Tournament. Can they rebound against the Hoosiers?
Final Score Prediction:
Purdue 77, Indiana 72
College Basketball Betting Odds
Love betting NCAA basketball? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date college basketball lines
