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Arkansas vs. Hawaii Round of 64 prediction: March Madness 2026 odds, picks, best bets Thursday

arkansas-vs.-hawaii-round-of-64-prediction:-march-madness-2026-odds,-picks,-best-bets-thursday
Arkansas vs. Hawaii Round of 64 prediction: March Madness 2026 odds, picks, best bets Thursday
Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on in the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores of 2026 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament Championship game at Bridgestone Arena on March 15, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on in the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores of 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship game at Bridgestone Arena on March 15, 2026 in Nashville. Getty Images

Arkansas opens the NCAA Tournament as a massive 15.5-point favorite over Big West champion Hawaii. 

If the fourth-seeded Razorbacks are going to justify that number, Darius Acuff Jr. should be a big reason why.

The Razorbacks guard has been one of the most productive players in the country all season, averaging 22.9 points and 6.5 assists per game, and it appears he’s only getting better as the year carries on.

Since the calendar turned to February, Acuff is filling up the box score like few others in college basketball, averaging a ridiculous 28.2 points and 7.2 assists per game. 

He’s had some massive performances along the way, including an impressive three-game stretch en route to the SEC title. 

Arkansas players Trevon Brazile, Darius Acuff Jr., and Jaden Karuletwa celebrating their tournament victory with the trophy.
Arkansas’ Trevon Brazile (7), Darius Acuff Jr. (5) and Jaden Karuletwa (0) celebrate after beating Vanderbilt in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament March 15, 2026, in Nashville. AP

Acuff tallied 30.3 points and nearly eight dishes per contest during the tournament, taking down Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt along the way. 

Those performances earned him SEC Tournament MVP honors.

A month ago, Acuff dropped 49 points during a double-overtime loss to Alabama, proving he can score against any defense in the country.

That type of production is what makes Acuff’s points + assists prop so appealing in the Razorbacks’ tournament opener. 


Betting on College Basketball?


Acuff is not just a scorer; he has the ball in his hands constantly, creates his own offense and generates easy looks for the rest of his Arkansas teammates when the scoring looks aren’t there.

In a game where Arkansas is expected to play from ahead against a No. 13 seed, there should still be plenty of chances for Acuff to stack production before things get out of hand.

The play: Darius Acuff Jr. Over 32.5 points + assists (-120, bet365)


Why Trust New York Post Betting

Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.

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