Kentucky Wildcats vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Predictions, Picks, Odds

Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

The Kentucky Wildcats (23-5, 12-3 SEC) travel to meet the Arkansas Razorbacks (22-6, 11-4) at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark. on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on CBS.

Score Prediction

Kentucky 74 Arkansas 71

Best Bet

Kentucky +120 ML
Kentucky +3.5 (-120)
Under 148.5 (-120)

KENTUCKY WILDCATS VS. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS PREDICTIONS

The Wildcats have posted a pair of victories against Alabama and LSU, recovering after a blowout at Tennessee on Feb. 15. Kentucky was a very impressive 47% (23-of-49) from the field, although UK hit just 17% (2-of-12) from behind the 3-point line. The Wildcats could also use a little bit of improvement at the free-throw line, going just 72% (23-of-32). Kentucky managed to turn it over just 11 times while outrebounding LSU by a 32-to-18 clip.

Kentucky has handled its business in the past two games despite the fact it has been without Gs Tyty Washington, Jr. (ankle) and Sahvir Wheeler (wrist). While that's great work, both of those games came at home. This could be its first test on the road without one or both of those backcourt members.

The Razorbacks are on fire lately, going for three wins since a 68-67 loss at Alabama on Feb. 12. Arkansas covered in that game against Alabama, however, and the Razorbacks have registered nine consecutive outings since Jan. 26, while going 12-1 ATS across the past 13 games overall.

KENTUCKY WILDCATS VS. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS BETTING ODDS

• Kentucky +120
• Arkansas -135
• Kentucky +3.5 (-120)
• Arkansas -2 (-112)
• Over 147 (-110)
• Under 148.5 (-120)

More Odds | Futures Odds

KENTUCKY WILDCATS VS. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS BETTING RESOURCES

• Matchup: SEC
• Date: Saturday, February 26, 2022
• Venue: Bud Walton Arena
• Location: Fayetteville, Ark.
• TV-Time: CBS - 2:00 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

KENTUCKY WILDCATS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 23-5
• ATS: 13-15
• O/U: 13-15

The Wildcats have alternated non-covers and cover across the past nine games, failing to cover last time out against LSU. In you believe in coincidental cover patterns like that, a cover will occur in Arkansas on Saturday.

Kentucky has had a difficult time covering on the road in recent seasons, going 4-12-1 ATS in the past 17 games on the road, while going 4-10 ATS in the past 14 on the road against teams with a winning home record. The good news is that the Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in the past four against teams with a non-cover.

The UNDER has cashed in seven of the past nine games on the road, while going 11-3-1 in the past 15 on the road against teams with a winning home record.

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 22-6
• ATS: 18-10
• O/U: 15-13

Arkansas has been cover kings lately, hitting in 12 of the past 13 games against the number, while going 4-0 ATS in the past four games at home and 7-0 ATS in the past seven against teams with a winning overall record. The Razorbacks are also 10-1 ATS in the past 11 following a straight-up win, and 10-1 ATS in the past 11 following a cover, too.

For totals, the Razorbacks are 5-2 in the past seven games against teams with a winning overall record. As far as Saturdays are concerned, Arkansas has hit the OVER at a 23-10-1 clip in the previous 34 appearances on a Saturday.

INSIDE THE STATS - KENTUCKY WILDCATS

• Record: 23-5
• PS/G: 80.6 (10th)
• PA/G: 65.3 (66th)
• ORtg: 114.8 (8th)
• DRtg: 93.0 (39th)

INSIDE THE STATS - ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

• Record: 22-6
• PS/G: 77.5 (38th)
• PA/G: 67.4 (131th)
• ORtg: 106.4 (103rd)
• DRtg: 92.5 (33rd)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

• UK: Kellan Grady - G (12.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 43.9 3P%)
• UK: Oscar Tshiebwe - F (16.4 PPG, 15.3 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 1.1 APG, 59.5 FG%)
• ARK: JD Notae - G (18.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.3 SPG)
• ARK: Stanley Umude - G (11.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 1.0 SPG, 45.6 FG%)

KENTUCKY WILDCATS VS. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS BETTING CONCLUSION

It's a little bit risky to play Kentucky straight up on the money line, as the health of Washington and Wheeler are very important to them. While yes, the Wildcats took care of business against Alabama and LSU, two good teams, in the past two games without the backcourt members, those games were at home. It remains to be seen if Washington and Wheeler can play Saturday, and if they cannot, it is uncertain how Kentucky will react in its first game on the road without the duo.

Still, I don't quite trust Arkansas yet. Yes, they spilled Tennessee last time out at home on Saturday, and they did record an impressive overtime win over Auburn on Feb. 8. However, they're 12-1 ATS in the past 13 games overall, and eventually all good things must come to an end. Kentucky has the defensive pressure to make things difficult on anybody, and Arkansas is going to feel the pressure in another marquee game at home. The value is playing the Wildcats straight up, with the lean to the UNDER.

KENTUCKY WILDCATS VS. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS BETTING TRENDS

• Kentucky is 4-12-1 ATS in the past 17 road games.
• Kentucky is 4-10 ATS in the past 14 road games vs. teams with a winning record.
• Kentucky is 4-0 ATS in the past four following a non-cover.
• Arkansas is 12-1 ATS in the past 13 games overall.
• Arkansas is 4-0 ATS in the past four home games.
• Arkansas is 7-0 ATS in the past seven vs. winning teams.
• Arkansas is 10-1 ATS in the past 11 following a SU win.
• Arkansas is 10-1 ATS in the past 11 following a cover.
• The UNDER is 7-2 in the past nine road games for Kentucky.
• The UNDER is 5-2 in the past seven vs. winning teams for Arkansas.
• The road team is 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings.
• The underdog is 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings.

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish