The Central Arkansas Bears (1-6, 0-0 Southland) visit the second-ranked Baylor Bears (6-0, 1-0 Big 12) Tuesday for a 4 p.m. ET tip at Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas. Below, we analyze the Central Arkansas-Baylor college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The Bears were No. 2 in the Dec. 28 release of the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.
Central Arkansas at Baylor: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: No money line was listed at the time of publishing, likely because the spread is so large.
- Against the spread/ATS: Central Arkansas +34.5 (-110) | Baylor -34.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 156.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Central Arkansas at Baylor: Three things to know
- Central Arkansas is no stranger to big numbers, as the Bears have been double-digit underdogs in six of their seven games to date. They’re 4-1-1 ATS in those games, so they’re not fazed when facing the big boys. The Bears spanked Champion Christian, a National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) member, by a 92-28 count Dec. 19. Their nearest miss against a Division I team was a three-point loss to Arkansas-Little Rock Dec. 6, falling 86-83.
- Baylor pounded Arkansas-Pine Bluff in their most recent game (Dec. 21), working the Golden Lions over 99-42 as 43.5-point favorites. Five of Baylor’s six wins have been by 30 or more points, and the Bears already topped a ranked team in Illinois by an 82-69 score as 4.5-point favorites Dec. 2. The Bears are 6-0 straight up and ATS to date.
- Baylor has alternated Over and Under results so far through six games, and it hit the Under (141.5) last time out against ARPB. The Bears rank sixth in the nation with 93.7 points per game, and they’re first in the country with a 47.0 3-point percentage. Defensively, Baylor is 31st overall with just 61.0 PPG allowed.
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Central Arkansas at Baylor: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Baylor 94, Central Arkansas 66
Money line (ML)
No money line was listed at the time of publishing. It wouldn’t be worth pursuing, anyway.
Against the spread (ATS)
CENTRAL ARKANSAS +34.5 (-110) is a risky play against the nation’s No. 2 team, especially with Baylor having covered the spread in all six of its games to date.
CARK is no joke, and the Bears have hung in games with Mississippi, Mississippi State and Memphis, among others, covering big numbers. This one will be no different.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 156.5 (-110) is the lean, ever so slightly, because of Baylor’s up-tempo and dynamic offense. It will take advantage of the undersized Bears from Central, working them inside early and often for a big lead. Baylor won’t quite reach triple digits, but it’s going to be close.
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