The Arkansas Razorbacks take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, AL. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Alabama is favored by 4.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -220. The total is set at 181.5 points.
Here’s my Arkansas vs. Alabama prediction and college basketball picks for February 18, 2026.
Arkansas vs Alabama Prediction
My Pick: Arkansas +4.5 (Play to +3.5)
My Arkansas vs Alabama best bet is on the Razorbacks to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Arkansas vs. Alabama Odds
| Arkansas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -115 | 181.5 -110o / -110u | +180 |
| Alabama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -105 | 181.5 -110o / -110u | -220 |
- Arkansas vs Alabama spread: Alabama -4.5
- Arkansas vs Alabama over/under: 181.5 points
- Arkansas vs Alabama moneyline: Arkansas +180, Alabama -220
Arkansas vs Alabama College Basketball Betting Preview
Arkansas Basketball
Since its loss to Kentucky, Arkansas has won three straight and now sits at 19-6 overall and 9-3 in the SEC.
Over that three-game span, Arkansas is rated as the fifth-best team in the country on Bart Torvik, boasting the seventh-best offense and the 11th-best defense in the process.
If Arkansas wants to win this game, it'll need to run Alabama off the 3-point line. The good news, if you're an Arkansas fan, is that the Razorbacks' 3-point defense has been outstanding in the past seven games, holding opponents to 29.1% from downtown.
Billy Richmond III (25.4%), D.J. Wagner (26.8%), Darius Acuff Jr. (27.2%) and Meleek Thomas (29.2%) hold opponents to less than 30% on 3-pointers (min.35 attempts).
Coming off a 31-point, seven-assist game, Acuff has a chance to continue his dominant playmaking against an Alabama defense that ranks last in forcing turnovers in SEC play.
Alabama Basketball
Alabama comes into this game red hot, winning four straight after beating South Carolina 89-75.
The Crimson Tide are 18-7 overall and 8-4 in the SEC thanks to their dynamic 3-point shooting.
On the season, 54% of Alabama's shot attempts have been 3s, and in its past six games, that number has gone up to 59.3% of its shot attempts.
In the two games since having an injury scare against Auburn, Latrell Wrightsell is averaging 20 points on 10-of-20 shooting from 3.
In total, Wrightsell has made 13 shots over the past two games on six total dribbles. He has a role and excels in it by moving without the basketball, allowing Labaron Philon Jr. and Aden Holloway to find him in transition or off their dribble drives.
Amari Allen intrigues me in this matchup because he can fill any role for this team.
At 6-foot-8, 205 pounds, he's proven to be a good rebounder (7.5 RPG), but during the four-game winning streak, his facilitating has been a big reason why Alabama has the 12th-best offense in that span.
In the past four games, Allen is averaging 4.8 assists per game with a 19/5 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Arkansas vs. Alabama Betting Analysis
Arkansas defense will be a good test for Alabama's offense. Will Alabama continue to live and die by the 3-pointer? Or will it take what the defense gives and look to score 2s against the 10th-rated 2-point defense in the SEC?
In the end, every Arkansas guard and wing has a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, and they'll put that on display against a defense that ranks last in turnover percentage. Meanwhile, Arkansas' athleticism and ability to guard the 3-point line will cause issues for Alabama's offensive flow.
I'm backing Arkansas to cover, but I'll also sprinkle a bit on the moneyline.
My Pick: Arkansas +4.5
