Kentucky vs. Arkansas Prediction & Odds
Number twenty-three Kentucky travels to Fayetteville to play unranked Arkansas on CBS at 2:00 PM ET Saturday afternoon. Can the Wildcats cover the 5-point spread as road underdogs?
Kentucky is 20-10 on the year with their best wins coming over Tennessee and Texas A&M. Their worst losses came against South Carolina and Vanderbilt. The Wildcats are 14-16 against the spread this season.
Arkansas is 19-11 this season with their best wins coming over Texas A&M and Kentucky. Their worst losses came against LSU and Vanderbilt. The Razorbacks are 15-14-1 against the spread this year.
Game Matchup and Betting Odds
633 Kentucky Wildcats (+5) vs. 634 Arkansas Razorbacks (-5); O/U 141
2:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 4, 2023
Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, AR
Kentucky vs. Arkansas Public Betting Information
Our CBB Public Betting Information page indicates that the public favors the Wildcats in this contest. Our public betting data illustrates that 51% of public bets are on Kentucky +5. Do note that these numbers are subject to change and could be different once tipoff rolls around, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Kentucky Game Notes
Kentucky’s Sahvir Wheeler is currently recovering from a minor surgical procedure which will keep him out of the lineup indefinitely. The 5’9” senior guard is leading the Wildcats in assists this season with 5.6 per game. Wheeler has also chipped in 7.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game for Kentucky this year.
Kentucky guard Cason Wallace missed the Wildcats’ game against Vanderbilt on Wednesday with a leg injury. Wallace is officially listed as questionable for Saturday’s clash with Arkansas. For the season, Wallace is averaging 11.7 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game in 31.6 minutes per contest for the Wildcats.
Arkansas Game Notes
Arkansas guard Davonte Davis is third on the club in minutes with 33.5 per game. He’s fifth on the team in scoring (10.9 points per game), fourth in rebounding (4 per game), and second in assists (2.8 per game). Davis leads the Crimson Tide in made three-pointers with 39 this season and he’s shooting a respectable 34.5% from deep on the campaign.
Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr. has taken on an expanded role in the Razorbacks’ offense in the last four games. In that span, Smith is averaging 18 points per game while taking an average of 15.5 shot attempts per contest. Smith and Davis will likely have to help Arkansas guard Ricky Council IV carry the scoring load against Kentucky on Saturday.
Kentucky vs. Arkansas CBB Betting Trends
Kentucky is 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games following an ATS loss.
Arkansas is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Arkansas is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games against a team with a winning straight-up record.
The over is 14-6 in Kentucky’s last 20 games overall.
Kentucky vs. Arkansas CBB Prediction:
The story of this game will be the injury status of Kentucky guard Cason Wallace. It’s very possible that Wallace misses Saturday’s game after he left the Wildcats’ last game Wednesday with a leg injury. Kentucky will already be without guard Sahvir Wheeler for this contest. Wheeler and Wallace rank first and second on the Wildcats in assists per game this season respectively, and their absence could loom large against Arkansas. The Razorbacks have four guards who average at least 1 steal per game and as a team, Arkansas ranks 25th in the nation in steals per defensive play. Kentucky may be without their two best ballhandlers on the road in a hostile environment against a bubble team that needs a win, and that could make it a long day for the Wildcats. I think Arkansas wins this game comfortably as their lengthy guards are able to disrupt Kentucky’s offensive flow.
CBB BETTING PREDICTION: ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS -5
