by Chuck Sommers
Sunday, Dec 19, 2021
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Venue: Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, OK
Where to watch: None
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Oklahoma -17.5
BetMGM: Oklahoma -17.5
Caesars: Oklahoma -17.5
Season record
UT-Arlington: 3-6
Oklahoma: 8-2
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UT-Arlington - Oklahoma preview and analysis
Recent form
UTA: lost 71-62 at Oral Roberts on Thursday
Oklahoma: won 88-66 vs. Arkansas on Dec. 11
The Oklahoma Sooners will look for their fifth win in six games when they host the UT-Arlington Mavericks in Norman on Sunday.
Oklahoma has yet to push themselves into the top 25, but may soon be on the horizon after two wins over top-15 teams in Florida and Arkansas. The Big 12 would love one more team to get to the top 25 before conference play begins, that's for sure. After this is a game against Alcorn State before the nitty-gritty begins Jan. 1.
All five starters scored in double figures to offset Davonte Davis' game-high 26 points. Elijah Harkless had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Tanner Groves added in 16 points for a dominant victory.
The Sooners shot 54.9 percent from the floor and went 13 of 22 from 3-point range. Oklahoma's defense, meanwhile, held those not named Davis to an abysmal night shooting the ball. Arkansas went only 34.4 percent shooting and missed 17 of 24 3-point attempts.
"There was no panic when Arkansas made it a one-possession game," said Oklahoma coach Porter Moser after Arkansas cut it to 57-54 in the second half. "Over and over we responded, time and time again."
The Mavericks are coming off a 71-62 loss to Oral Roberts on Thursday. David Azore had a team-high 16 points while the team shot less than 40 percent from the floor and 29.4 percent from 3-point range.
Prediction
This shouldn't be too much of an issue. Oklahoma is more talented, much better, and much more deeper than UTA. Sooners in a runaway. Oklahoma by 25
Betting trends
UTA is 8-12 ATS in its last 20 as a road dog.
UTA is 2-10 ATS off two straight unders.
Oklahoma is 14-23 ATS in its last 37 as a favorite.
Projected starting lineup
UT-Arlington:
PG: Javon Levi
SG: David Azore
SF: Pedro Castro
PF: Patrick Mwamba
C: Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu
SF: Pedro Castro
PF: Patrick Mwamba
C: Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu
Oklahoma:
PG: Elijah Harkless
SG: Umoja Gibson
SF: Jordan Goldwire
PF: Jalen Hill
C: Tanner Groves
SF: Jordan Goldwire
PF: Jalen Hill
C: Tanner Groves
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
