The Kentucky Wildcats and the Arkansas Razorbacks meet Saturday in college basketball action from Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. Here’s an Arkansas vs Kentucky prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Arkansas vs Kentucky pick.
Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview
The Wildcats got off to a shaky start this year amid some tough competition. Kentucky lost four of their first nine games, but then took wins over NC Central, Indiana, St. John’s and Bellarmine. After losses to Alabama and Missouri, the Wildcats beat Mississippi State, LSU, Tennessee, Texas and Ole Miss before another loss to Vanderbilt. Over the first 21 games that gives Kentucky a 14-7 record in the books overall.
In the Vanderbilt matchup on Tuesday the Wildcats were in the locker room sitting on a rough 43-23 deficit on the scoreboard. Kentucky didn’t end up getting any closer than that with a 37-32 disadvantage in the second half and lost in blowout fashion on the road 80-55 in the end. Otega Oweh led the team on 20 points and five boards with three assists, and Denzel Aberdeen chipped in 15 points with two assists.
Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Preview
Over on the Arkansas side, they managed to win nine of their first 12 games this year. Those victories came over Southern, Central Arkansas, Samford, Winthrop, Jackson State, Louisville, Fresno State, Texas Tech and Queens U. It’s been a 7-2 run since then for the Razorbacks. They’ve beaten James Madison, Tennessee, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, LSU and Oklahoma in that stretch, giving the team a 16-5 run so far this season in 21 outings.
In the Tuesday matchup versus Oklahoma on the road, the Razorbacks were heading into the second half with a 48-44 deficit. Arkansas fought back on a 39-31 advantage in the second half and ended up pulling off an 83-79 win in the end. Darius Acuff put up 21 points with nine assists and three rebounds while Meleek Thomas added 16 points with four rebounds and one assist in 33 minutes of work on the floor during the victory effort.
Why the Arkansas Razorbacks will win
- Arkansas has won each of its last 18 games as an AP-ranked team at Bud Walton Arena.
- Kentucky has lost each of its last seven night games against AP-ranked opponents.
- Arkansas has won the first half in each of its last 11 night games at Bud Walton Arena.
Why the Kentucky Wildcats will win
- Kentucky has won five of its last six games.
- Arkansas has lost each of its last five Saturday games as a top-15 AP-ranked team.
- Kentucky has won the first half in each of its last six Saturday night road games against Conference opponents.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Arkansas’ last six games against non-AP-ranked opponents at Bud Walton Arena have produced a total of 166+ points.
- Each of Kentucky’s last four night games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 153 or fewer points.
Arkansas vs Kentucky Prediction
I’ll lean toward Arkansas. This should be a pretty good matchup regardless though, and you could call it either way. The Razorbacks had their ups and downs during a road win over Oklahoma this week, shooting a great 55.6 percent from the field and 84.6 percent (11-of-13) from the line alongside just six turnovers. Arkansas was dismal from 3-point range on 11.8 percent (2-of-17) though, and they had a 33-28 deficit on points in the paint. Still, the Razorbacks are rolling on three straight wins right now, with 83 or more points in all of those outings.
As for Kentucky, they got blitzed on the road by a very good Vanderbilt team in their last outing. The Wildcats shot just 32.2 percent from the field and 11-of-19 (57.9 percent) from the line in that one, adding a 41-33 rebounding deficit and 14 turnovers. Kentucky had won five straight games prior to that however, with 72 or more points scored in each of those. I like this one to be competitive most of the way, with Arkansas pulling it off in the end. Should be a good one.