FLORIDA GATORS (18-2)
at ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS (13-8)
Bud Walton Arena – Fayetteville, AR Tip-off: Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. ET Line: Florida -11, Total: 137 No. 2 Florida will have a big margin to cover on the road as it takes on Arkansas in Fayetteville on Tuesday night. The Gators have one of the nation’s most efficient offenses, hitting 49.6% FG (7th-best in Division-I). Their high FG Pct. is even more remarkable given how reliant they are on the three-ball, hitting 8.7 threes per game (12th in nation) on a stellar 39.1% clip (21st in D-I). During their 10-game SU win streak, Florida has shot 50% or better from the field in eight of the 10 victories. Meanwhile, the Razorbacks offense isn’t too shabby at 77.0 PPG (22nd in D-I) and will just have to play a competitive game at home, where they have won 10 straight, in order to cover. Will Florida coast to another easy victory on Tuesday night? For the answer, connect to College Basketball Best Bets for all the Expert picks throughout the entire 2012-13 season StatFox Gary is 9-4 ATS (69%) in his past six days of Best Bets, boosting his season record to 56.3% ATS (72-56-1). StatFox Dave has gone 15-11 ATS (58%) in the past eight days to move to 53% ATS (114-101-3) for the season. The balanced Florida offense is led by SG Kenny Boynton (13.4 PPG, 3.4 APG), who scored 25 points last season when the Gators trounced the Razorbacks 98-68 in Fayetteville in the only meeting between the two teams. Boynton is joined in the backcourt by PG Scottie Wilbekin (9.3 PPG, 5.1 APG) who excels as a ball-handler (2.60 Ast/TO ratio) while also presenting a decent shot (48% FG, 38% threes). Six-foot-10 PF Erik Murphy (12.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG) has been arguably the best shooter on the team this season, hitting 2.3 threes per game on an incredible 51.2% clip. He’s been especially hot lately, hitting 17-of-24 (70.8%) from 3-point range in his past five games. C Patric Young (11.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG) and PF Will Yeguete (6.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG) are the two guys on the team who can’t stroke from deep, but they are also the team’s two top rebounders and interior defenders. Young is coming off a monster game in Saturday's 78-64 win over Ole Miss with 13 points (6-of-8 FG) and 12 rebounds. The Arkansas offense is mostly a two-man show with sophomore G BJ Young (16.7 PPG, 4.1 APG, 4.1 RPG) leading the way. Last season, he single-handedly tried to keep the Razorbacks in the game, dropping 31 points on 10-of-19 shooting. He’s coming off a 25-point game against Tennessee in which he hit 9-of-15 FG, including 2-of-3 from deep. Six-foot-7 F Marshawn Powell (15.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG) complements Young on the inside. He has been a consistent presence, scoring in double-digits for seven consecutive games, averaging 17.6 PPG during this streak. To keep this contest close, though, the Razorbacks will need some improved shooting out of players like Mardracus Wade (6.3 PPG, 1.7 SPG), who is hitting just 27.6% (16-of-58) three-pointers this season, and is coming off a scoreless performance in Saturday's 73-60 win over Tennessee. Sophomore F Hunter Mickelson (7.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG) helped picked up the slack with 10 points, five rebounds and four steals in 24 minutes of action against the Vols.
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