Arkansas and LSU are on two different paths as they meet on Tuesday.
The Razorbacks currently sit a game back of Florida and half a game behind Kentucky atop the SEC standings. The Tigers are half a game back of Oklahoma and South Carolina for last place in the conference and have won just two of their 10 conference games so far.
It’s no surprise that the Razorbacks are projected by ESPN Analytics to come away with the win. They’re being given a 57.7% chance of victory over the Tigers.
In John Calipari’s first season at Arkansas, there were doubts in some circles whether the Razorbacks would even make the NCAA Tournament. But they picked up an at-large bid as a 10 seed en route to a surprising Sweet Sixteen berth. Fast forward to this season. Thanks in part to freshman sensation Darius Acuff, they won’t have to sweat out Selection Sunday this season.
LSU, meanwhile, is pacing for another disappointing season under Matt McMahon. The Tigers’ conference finishes under McMahon have been 14th, t-7th, and 15th. They’re in 14th with eight games remaining and enter Tuesday with a 16-48 mark in the SEC since McMahon arrived ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
