SEC Hoops: Mitch Picks Tennessee at Arkansas

Tennessee (13-7) at Arkansas (13-6)

The Line: Arkansas +4

Time: 8:05 PM EST

Playing against top-level competition is nothing new or strange to either of these teams. Arkansas set the tone for their season knocking off Texas and Oklahoma but then appeared to be in a tailspin, losing their first four conference games before beating Alabama last week.

Tennessee seems to be playing in a main event every time out, as their schedule ranks No. 2 in toughness. Because of all of the seemingly gigantic games the Vols have been involved in this year, it's tough to even think that they are still a very good 4-2 in the conference.

While the conference records seem to be going in opposite directions, you can't take anything for granted in the SEC.

Tennessee comes in at 8-9-1 against the spread, while Arkansas is 7-5 against the number. While I normally think that trends and things of this nature have a pretty big outcome when the big story is told, I don't see it being the case this time out. While Arkansas won their two big games earlier in the year, I think the Vols looked just about unbeatable last time out against Florida.

Tennessee has covered in seven of the last 10 overall in the series and the last four at Arkansas. The road team has also covered in seven of the last eight meetings. Tennessee is battle-tested and should be well ready by the time the tournament rolls around; this should be a very winnable game for them.

Mitch's Pick: Tennessee -4

See all of Mitch's Free College Basketball picks against the spread.