Today's Free Picks for
Posted at 10:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.
Saturday, March 21
Arkansas -11½ over High Point
Moda Center – Portland, OR
9:45 PM EST. We’re not zigzagging because of one result.
If you liked Wisconsin laying double digits against High Point two days ago, nothing about that handicap changes now. High Point pulled the upset, their coach gave an emotional speech, and suddenly they’ve become America’s team. The media loves the story, the public loves the story, and the market is gravitating to the feel-good Cinderella. That’s exactly how numbers get discounted.
High Point is the only true Cinderella left, and that popularity is inflating their value. The first two days of this tournament were dominated by big favorites. Very few real upsets occurred, and now bettors are hunting for the next one. That demand pushes money toward the underdog—and quietly makes the favorite cheaper.
Now Arkansas shows up at a bargain.
This is still a major step up in class for High Point. Arkansas brings SEC size, depth, and physicality, and they just hung nearly 90 points in the first round. They rebound, defend the paint, and have multiple scoring options across the lineup. Over 40 minutes, that depth wears teams down—especially mid-majors that rely on rhythm and emotion.
And emotion fades quickly in the second game.
High Point just played the biggest game in program history. The spotlight, the attention, the celebration—it all came at once. Now they face a battle-tested team coached by John Calipari, who has been in this exact spot dozens of times. Experience matters in the Round of 32, and Arkansas has it everywhere.
This is not about the story. This is about the number.
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Our Pick
Arkansas -11½ -110 (Risking 2.2 units - To Win: 2.00)