The 15th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks take on the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, looking to extend a three-game win streak and protect an undefeated home court record this season. Can they beat out the Wildcats? Our Kentucky vs. Arkansas prediction has the projected starting lineups and a full score forecast with analysis for this exciting showdown.
Kentucky vs. Arkansas Projected Lineups and Key Matchups
Kentucky Wildcats Starting Lineup
- Otega Oweh (16.3 PPG)
- Denzel Aberdeen (12.4 PPG)
- Collin Chandler (8.8 PPG)
- Malachi Moreno (8.5 PPG)
- Andrija Jelavic (5.5 PPG)
Arkansas Razorbacks Starting Lineup
- Darius Acuff Jr. (20.2 PPG)
- Meleek Thomas (15.2 PPG)
- Trevon Brazile (12.3 PPG)
- Karter Knox (8.9 PPG)
- Nick Pringle (5.5 PPG)
Kentucky vs. Arkansas Prediction and Preview
This is an off week for the NFL in preparation for the Super Bowl, and the scheduling committee for college hoops deserves a pat on the back for getting us the John Calipari narrative in that window.
His current employer has won three straight and seven of nine, while his former was blitzed on Tuesday against Vandy, their fourth loss by 15+ points this season.
The Wildcats were just starting to find their footing, but that result was a reminder of just how fickle things can be. I’d love to tell you that this is some complex matchup where Coach Cal will be the difference, but I don’t believe that to be true.
This is a battle of point guards
Darius Acuff Jr. has led the Razorbacks in scoring in seven of their past eight games and, for much of his freshman season, has looked unguardable at the point of attack.
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He’s been especially comfortable at home lately (last two: 48 points on 20-43 shooting with seven made triples and 11 assists) and has developed on the fly better than anyone could have reasonably expected.
Otega Oweh will oppose him, with a full NCAA resume. The experience edge is real and, likely more impactful, so is a 30-pound advantage from having been in a DI weight room for four years.
His efficiency has declined this season, and if he tries to turn this into a one-on-one game with Acuff, the road team might be drawing dead. But his profile is the type that can succeed at slowing one of the nation’s best.
Do that, and this game gets awfully interesting awfully fast.
I think Kentucky will show better than they did earlier in the week, but I’m not trusting them over an entire game against an Arkansas team that is putting the pieces to the puzzle together.
Prediction: Arkansas 83, Kentucky 73
How To Watch Kentucky vs. Arkansas
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 31, 2025
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Fayetteville, AR
- Arena: Bud Walton Arena
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: FuboTV
