Arkansas Razorbacks vs Florida Gators Picks and Predictions January 11th 2025

Expect a Rebounding ‘Crash’ When No. 8 Florida Faces Arkansas

Rebounding will take center stage when No. 8 Florida visits Arkansas in Fayetteville on Saturday afternoon for a Southeastern Conference showdown.

The Razorbacks (11-4, 0-2 SEC) have been manhandled on the boards in their first two conference games, including a 22-rebound deficit in a loss at LSU and a minus-one margin during Wednesday’s 73-66 home loss to No. 23 Ole Miss. Things won’t get any easier against the Gators (14-1, 1-1), who lead the SEC in rebounding and are coming off a dominant 73-43 rout of top-ranked Tennessee.

Florida’s Dominance on the Glass

The Gators crushed Tennessee with a plus-19 rebounding edge, thanks largely to their towering frontcourt duo. Rueben Chinyelu pulled down 15 rebounds, and Alex Condon added 12, demonstrating why Florida is such a formidable opponent in the paint.

Bet Smarter with NCAAB Expert Picks! Get top advice with NCAAB basketball expert picks.

“When we both crash, it’s hard to stop both of us,” said Condon, a 6-foot-11 forward who pairs seamlessly with the 6-foot-10, 255-pound Chinyelu.

Florida coach Todd Golden lauded Chinyelu’s physicality and development, which has been pivotal for the Gators.

“He’s a beast, man,” Golden said. “It’s disheartening for your opponent when you play a good defensive possession and he just skies over everybody, grabs it, outlet, now we’re out running.”

Arkansas Searching for Balance

For the Razorbacks, rebounding won’t be the only area needing improvement. Coach John Calipari acknowledged that the team lacks consistent contributions across the roster.

“We’ve got a good team, but everybody’s got to play well,” Calipari said. “All nine got to give us something.”

Against Ole Miss, Adou Thiero led Arkansas with 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting, but the rest of the team struggled mightily, shooting just 15 of 47 from the field.

Johnell Davis (15 points) and Boogie Fland (14 points) contributed, but Fland’s recent shooting slump—28.6 percent from the field over the past two games, including 3-for-17 from 3-point range—has hindered the Razorbacks’ offense.

“I feel like we ran good offense,” Davis said. “We just got to be able to knock them down, the shots that we get — the open shots, the layups, free throws, all that.”

Series History and Outlook

Florida snapped Arkansas’ three-game winning streak in the series with a commanding 90-68 victory last season. The Gators lead the all-time series 27-15.

Coach Golden believes his team has turned a corner after rebounding from a tough six-point loss to then-No. 10 Kentucky in their SEC opener.

Want To Bet Smarter? Visit Our Expert Betting Guide Today!

“We played with great toughness physically at Kentucky … but our mental toughness wasn’t where it needed to be to win that game on the road,” Golden said. “I thought (Tuesday) we played with great mental and physical toughness for 40 minutes.”

Key Factors to Watch

1. Rebounding Battle: Can Arkansas find a way to counter Florida’s dominant frontcourt?
2. Shooting Consistency: The Razorbacks need Fland and others to improve their efficiency from the floor.
3. Mental Toughness: Florida’s ability to sustain its focus and physicality will be tested on the road.

With Florida trending upward and Arkansas searching for answers, Saturday’s game could come down to which team controls the glass and executes in crunch time.