Arkansas vs. New Mexico State: NCAA Tournament odds, final score predictions from ESPN, KenPom
The 12-seed New Mexico State Aggies (27-6) take on the 4-seed Arkansas Razorbacks (26-8) in the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at 8:40 p.m. ET. Here’s how to watch, odds, ESPN BPI predictions and KenPom game predictions as well for both teams ahead of Saturday’s 2nd Round clash.
How to watch New Mexico State vs. Arkansas
Time: 8:40 PM ET
Channel: TNT
Location: KayBank Center — Buffalo, New York
Odds
Arkansas is a 6.5-point favorite over New Mexico State on Saturday, according to Vegas Insider.
Money line: Arkansas -286, New Mexico State +228
Spread: Arkansas -6.5, -110, New Mexico State +6.5, –110
Total: Over/Under 138.5, -110
Check out the rest of Vegas’ odds for Saturday’s slate here.
ESPN BPI Predictions
Matchup quality: 72.2%
Win probability: Arkansas, 86.7%
Predicted point differential: 12.4
The College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of performance going forward. BPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Strength of Record (SOR) is a measure of team accomplishment based on how difficult a team’s W-L record is to achieve.
Game predictions account for opponent strength, pace of play, site, travel distance, day’s rest and altitude, and are used to simulate the season 10,000 times to produce season projections. Numbers update daily,’ per ESPN.
For the rest of ESPN’s BPI predictions, click here.
KenPom Predictions
Score prediction: Arkansas 73, New Mexico State 68
Win probability: Arkansas, 70%
Check out the rest of KenPom’s predictions for New Mexico State vs. Arkansas and the entirety of college basketball here.
Arkansas’ Jaylin Williams: ‘We’ve always been overlooked.’
Jaylin Williams is used to the rest of the country underestimating Arkansas. Many counted the Razorbacks out this season after an 0-3 start to SEC play, but the team never stopped believing.
They turned around to deliver a nine-game winning streak that included an upset of then-No. 1 Auburn. Arkansas ultimately finished 13-5 in the conference to earn a four seed in the NCAA Tournament, but the Razorbacks still feel as if they are being overlooked.
After defeating Vermont in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament, Arkansas will New Mexico State in the 2nd Round. Still, many picked against the Razorbacks in the first round, as they were popular pick to be upset among college basketball pundits. Williams and the rest of his teammates are acutely aware of this, and find themselves relishing the opportunity to prove doubters wrong once again.
“I feel like that has been our thing since the beginning of the season,” Williams said in a Wednesday press conference. “We’ve always been overlooked. We’re 0-3 at the beginning of the conference, and everybody turned their back on us, and we kept believing in each other. What this team can do I feel like the sky is the limit. We believe in each other. Believe that the guy next to us is going to make the big shot every game no matter who it is. We just keep believing in each other, and we’re going to go game by game.”
Against New Mexico State, Arkansas and Jaylin Williams will be hoping to prove the world wrong once again.