The Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Arkansas Razorbacks are set to face one another in the Sweet 16 round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 27.
Tip-off is set for 9:09 p.m. central on TBS/truTV.
Texas Tech (27-8), a No. 3 seed, is coming off a 77-64 win over Drake on Saturday. Arkansas (22-13), a No. 10 seed, is coming off a 75-66 win over St. John’s on Saturday.
Texas Tech is back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since the 2022 Tournament and is hoping to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019, when the Red Raiders finished as the national runner-up. Meanwhile, Arkansas is back in the Sweet 16 after a one-year hiatus, as the Razorbacks have now made it to the second weekend in four of the last five years. Prior to that, they’d failed to advance past the Round of 32 dating back to the 1996 season.
Here is a preview of the game.
How to Watch Texas Tech vs. Arkansas
Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
Time: 9:09 p.m. CT
TV Channel: TBS/truTV
Site: Chase Center; San Francisco, CA
Texas Tech vs. Arkansas Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: Texas Tech (-6.5)
Current Line: Texas Tech (-5.5)
Over/Under: 147.5 (Open: 144.5)
Texas Tech vs. Arkansas Predictions
Grant McCasland’s second season in Lubbock has been incredible, and despite missing one of his top guards over their last three games, his squad has found a way to survive and advance to the Sweet 16—and could still have a ways to go in this tournament.
With Chance McMillian missing the last few weeks, the Red Raiders have had to rely on production from other names in the backcourt. Most recently, it was Elijah Hawkins, who had 16 points in their win over Drake, and before that it was senior Kerwin Walton, who had a career-high 27 points in TTU’s first-round victory over UNCW.
The difference in this game, however, is going to come down to the battle inside. That’s where 6-foot-9 sophomore JT Toppin enters the picture. Toppin, a first-team All-American, has been as dominant as any player in the country this season, averaging 18.1 points and 9.3 rebounds. Against Drake, Toppin was an efficient 11-13 from the field, with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Add the 28 points, six rebounds, and five assists from Darrion Williams and you’ve got some real problems to deal with inside.
If Arkansas wants to win this game, they’ll have to find a way to limit Toppin and Williams and force some turnovers. If they can do that, Texas Tech could find themselves in a tight game that comes down to getting to the line, which hasn’t been a strength.
John Calapari and the Razorbacks have the edge in experience and will make this a dog-fight late into the second half. However, with a distinct advantage in offensive rebounding and effective possessions, in the end, the Red Raiders’ high-flying offense will be enough to lift them past the Razorbacks and on to the Elite Eight.
Texas Tech 78, Arkansas 72
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Texas Tech (72.5% Chance to Win)
