T.M. Selection: Arkansas.

I like Arkansas to cover the spread against Vermont in this game on Thursday. Arkansas has looked really good in their games lately winning 6/8 of their previous 8 games. Their 2 losses during that time were both against teams that ended up in the SEC finals and their loss to Tennessee, who became the SEC Champions this year, was a very close loss by 4 points where they still looked really good. Arkansas did make it to the elite eight last year where they lost to Baylor who ended up being the champions, so they have shown their ability to make a deep run in the tournament. I think they are going to make a good run this year too since they looked really good for most of the year. They had a very good start to their year and kind of dropped off a bit in the middle but they got really hot again as they ended out the year and I think they can carry over that momentum into this tournament. Vermont has won 8 games in a row, including their conference title game, and they have looked really good blowing out a lot of opposing teams but they also play in a conference that they dominate and has no real competition for them. Vermont didn't even play any good teams in their non conference games at the beginning of the year and I really think Arkansas is the best team they will have faced all year. I expect Arkansas to take a lead early in this game and maintain it for most of the game staying in control. I like Arkansas to cover the spread in this game.

T.M. Prediction: 82-72 Arkansas.