There's something about this Arkansas-Virginia matchup that screams March, and we're still only in November. We've got two ranked programs meeting on a neutral floor in D.C. in an early-season contest that has all the ingredients of a game you might expect to see in the Sweet 16. Arkansas certainly has the offensive firepower to put points on the board, but the Razorbacks aren't exactly strangers to playing defense themselves. On the other side, Virginia has built its reputation around defensive discipline, physicality and making opponents work for everything they get. Put those ingredients together and we're looking at a fascinating clash where possessions could become considerably more valuable than the market anticipates.
Here's the thing. This isn't necessarily a matchup where either team will want to get dragged into a free-flowing shootout. Both teams have plenty to prove and the very style of this contest can turn this one into a cafe fight. Expect plenty of battles on the glass, contested possessions and stretches where both parties struggle to find offensive rhythm. Arkansas can score, no question, but Virginia's defensive approach should make the Razorbacks earn their opportunities. Likewise, the Cavaliers aren't going to find everything coming easily against an Arkansas outfit capable of holding its own defensively. This has the makings of a hard-fought, tournament-style battle where every basket matters. I'll take the Under.
Arkansas vs Virginia prediction: Under 158.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 158.
