The Queens Royals take on the Central Arkansas Bears in Jacksonville, FL, in the ASUN Tournament title game. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Central Arkansas is favored by -2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -154. The total is set at 157.5 points.
Here’s my Queens vs. Central Arkansas predictions and college basketball picks for March 8, 2026.
Queens vs Central Arkansas Prediction
My Pick: Central Arkansas -2.5 | Play to -3.5
My Queens vs Central Arkansas best bet is on Central Arkansas to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Queens vs. Central Arkansas Odds
| Queens Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -102 | 157.5 -110o / -110u | +128 |
| C. Arkansas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -120 | 157.5 -110o / -110u | -154 |
- Queens vs Central Arkansas spread: Central Arkansas -3.5
- Queens vs Central Arkansas over/under: 157.5 points
- Queens vs Central Arkansas moneyline: Queens +128, Central Arkansas -154
Queens vs Central Arkansas College Basketball Betting Preview
It's #1 vs #3 in the ASUN final on Sunday afternoon as Central Arkansas takes on Queens University live from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. The ASUN Final tips off at 2:00 PM ET and can be seen live on ESPN2.
Central Arkansas enters after back-to-back defeats over Bellarmine and Florida Gulf Coast, is most recent victory being a continuation of one of its more impressive defensive stretches of the season. UCA has built commanding leads against its first two foes because of a defense that has held its opponents to 24% shooting from outside the arc and has allowed a total of 29 shots from the stripe in the two games combined. UCA has the top-ranked defense in the ASUN, and this bunch is going to have to be at its best against a red-hot Queens squad looking to punch its first ticket to the BIG DANCE.
Queens took care of business in its first two games against West Georgia and Austin Peay, as the collective offense has been sharp and the Royals have taken great care of the rock in the ASUN tournament. Queens committed just five turnovers on Saturday night against the high-pressure Austin Peay defense, and the Royals were able to pull out a win despite shooting just 6/15 from the foul line.
Hot outside shooting and a dominant inside game from Jordan Watford allowed Queens to build a 7-point halftime lead that it would never relinquish. Although it was swept in two meetings with Central Arkansas during the regular season, Queens has the hot hand and has to feel it can play with the Bears in a neutral setting with everything on the line here. This will be an exquisite game today.
This line opened UCA a 2.5-point favorite with a total set at 157.5. The total has been bet down from 160 on the open. I am going to lay it with UCA here.
Central Arkansas has been one of the hottest low-major teams in the country the last two months of the season, having won 15 of its last 16 games, with its only blemish being a four-point road loss at Florida Gulf Coast, which it just avenged. The defense is tops in the conference at blocking and altering shots in the post, and Queens has struggled at times with having shots rejected in the painted area.
UCA really adjusted its game plan in the second meeting between these two, which took place on the last day of the regular season. Queens had just 24 first-half points and really struggled to bury the outside shot.
This is the third game in three days for both teams, but Queens has had the more stressful path up to this point, and there could be some tired legs and short jumpers thrown up by the Royals here in this contest. Queens is going to have to find other ways to matriculate the offensive output here, and I worry about their ability to execute on the offensive end.
Some of the Queens' big men were in early foul trouble against UCA the last time out, which ended up being a problem. Jabriel Maban and Avantae Parker both played just 23 minutes in the most recent matchup, and both have struggled with foul trouble consistently down the stretch.
Queens fouls and sends its opponents to the stripe more than anyone in the ASUN, and I foresee UCA feasting in the paint and working the foul game here.
UCA is hot, and a team that I think can be dangerous in the NCAA tournament. Queens will put up a heck of a fight here, but I do not trust the defense to accumulate stops against a team that averaged 1.23 points per possession against it in 2 games this season. I want to back UCA in this matchup to win this game and eke out a cover late.
My Pick: Central Arkansas -2.5 | Play to -3.5
