John Calipari hopes to get one up on his former employer when the Arkansas Razorbacks play host to the Kentucky Wildcats at Bud Walton Arena tonight.
The Wildcats are reeling after an embarrassing defeat at Vanderbilt. Now they face a Razorbacks team that has yet to lose at home while going 9-3 against the spread.
My Kentucky vs. Arkansas predictions and college basketball picks explain why another poor road performance is likely on Saturday, January 31.
Kentucky vs Arkansas prediction
Kentucky vs Arkansas best bet: Arkansas 1H -3.5 (-115)
One of the only things I’ve enjoyed about watching the first half of the Kentucky Wildcats games this season is profiting from them.
That’s because, going back to last season, Kentucky has failed to cover the first-half spread in 26 of its 37 games. And while trends can often be disregarded, this one is worth following for multiple reasons.
Mark Pope’s team has often come out flat this season, with slow starts and offensive struggles. And while Pope has often done well with halftime adjustments, they continue to find themselves in holes they can’t escape.
That issue has been amplified outside of Rupp Arena.
Including neutral-site games against St. John’s and Gonzaga, the Wildcats have played eight games away from home. The average halftime lead for their opponents has been nearly 15 points.
They’ve trailed by 16 or more points in five of those outings, and have been no closer than seven points in any of them.
Kentucky has struggled with teams that can score in bunches. The Wildcats often have lulls at the offensive end in the first half, and games quickly get away from them — especially with injuries beginning to pile up.
The Wildcats struggle with defending in transition, and the Hogs excel in that area. The Arkansas Razorbacks also rank first in 2p% and fourth in 3p% in SEC play, a big reason they are averaging nearly 1.3 points per possession.
With how poorly Kentucky performs in the opening half, I expected the Hogs to be favored by at least 5.5 here.
That’s why getting them to lay just 3.5 points in the opening 20 minutes isn’t just a gift; it’s a multi-unit play.
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Kentucky vs Arkansas same-game parlay
Kentucky’s opponents are registering assists on 57.8% of their made baskets, ranking the Wildcats 304th nationally. Darius Acuff Jr. is a consistent assist machine, with a 33.7% assist rate in conference play.
He has averaged eight assists in his last five games and should thrive against this Kentucky transition defense.
One of the beneficiaries of his passing has been Meleek Thomas, who is hitting 48.7% of his treys in SEC play.
He’s knocked down 17 of his 24 long-range efforts in his last four games at Bud Walton Arena, and I like him to hit a trio of them for the fifth-straight home outing.
Kentucky vs Arkansas SGP
- Arkansas 1H -3.5
- Darius Acuff Jr Over 6.5 assists
- Meleek Thomas Over 2.5 threes
Our beyond the arc SGP: Dishing and Swishing!
Arkansas has struggled to defend the rim in conference play, and Otega Oweh will need to attack it for Kentucky to have a chance. He’s the only reliable offensive weapon for the Wildcats this season, and he’s scored 20+ points in six of his eight conference outings.
The Wildcats have mounted three amazing comebacks this season, but those came against teams that couldn’t score at an efficient rate consistently. This Arkansas team, much like Vanderbilt earlier this week, will be able to keep them at arm’s length as they win by nine or more.
Kentucky vs Arkansas SGP
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Arkansas -3.5 1H
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Darius Acuff Jr Over 6.5 assists
- Meleek Thomas Over 2.5 threes
- Otega Oweh Over 19.5 points
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Arkansas -7
Kentucky vs Arkansas odds
- Spread: Kentucky +7.5 (-110) | Arkansas -7.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Kentucky +215 | Arkansas -260
- Over/Under: Over 162 (-110) | Under 162 (-110)
Kentucky vs Arkansas betting trend to know
Kentucky has only covered the 1H spread in 11 of its last 37 games (-17.95 Units / -42% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Kentucky vs. Arkansas.
How to watch Kentucky vs Arkansas
| Location | Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, AR |
| Date | Saturday, January 31, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 6:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Kentucky vs Arkansas key injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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