Arkansas Razorbacks vs Kansas Jayhawks Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 03/20/2025

Game Time: 7:10 pm ET, Thursday, March 20, 2025

Venue:  Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI

Where to Watch:  CBS

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Arkansas +4.5, Kansas -4.5; Over/Under:  145.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Arkansas +4.5, Kansas -4.5; Over/Under:  145.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Arkansas +4.5, Kansas -4.5; Over/Under:  145.5 points

Arkansas Razorbacks:  20-13 (8-10) (9th place, SEC)

Kansas Jayhawks:  21-12 (11-9) (6th place, Big 12)

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Arkansas Razorbacks:  3-2  last 5

Kansas Jayhawks:  2-3  last 5

Arkansas is entering this game with a 20-13 record overall, an 8-10 record in conference games, and they are 2-3 in their neutral site games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Ole Miss Rebels in their last game. Jonas Aidoo led the team in points in that game with 17 while Trevon Brazile and Billy Richmond III each were next on the team with 15. Dajuan Wagner Jr. and Karter Knox each led the team in assists with 4 in that game while Trevon Brazile led the team in rebounds with 11. They were 46.4% from the field, 31.8% from 3-point range, and 65.6% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 76.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 71.2 PPG against them. Arkansas has an ATS record of 14-18-1 this season and their O/U record is 15-18.

Kansas is entering this game with a 21-12 record overall, an 11-9 conference record, and they are 3-1 in their neutral site games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Arizona Wildcats in their last game. Zeke Mayo led the team in points in that game with 20 while Hunter Dickinson was next on the team with 19. KJ Adams Jr. led the team in assists with 5 in that game while Hunter Dickinson led the team in rebounds with 12. They were 42.2% from the field, 45.2% from 3-point range, and 69.2% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 76.2 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 69.3 PPG against them. Kansas has an ATS record of 15-18 this season and their O/U record is 12-21.

The current betting odds have Arkansas listed as a 4.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Arkansas has looked good in their games this season with their 20-13 record overall, but their 8-10 conference record had them in the bottom half of the SEC. They were 2-3 in their neutral site games too, but they did enough to get to this tournament where anything can happen now. Meanwhile, Kansas has looked good in their games this season with their 21-12 record overall and their 11-9 conference record which had them in the top half of the Big 12. They were also 3-1 in their neutral site games this year, but they definitely didn't live up to their expectations. They were ranked number 1 overall coming into the season and now they aren't even ranked inside the top 25 coming into this tournament. They are coming off a loss to Arizona in the Big 12 Tournament and they haven't looked that good lately either as they are 2-3 in their last 5 games. Arkansas didn't have a great year under Cal in his 1st season coaching there, but they also played in the toughest conference in the nation. They are coming off a loss to Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament, but that was a tight game that they had a chance to win and they are 3-2 in their last 5 games as they have been playing better lately. This is a matchup between two very good coaches with a lot of experience in this tournament, and both teams are going to bring their best effort here to prove the doubters wrong. Either way, this is going to be a tight game in the end so it is best to take the points. The best way to place a bet here is on Arkansas to cover the spread in this game. 

Arkansas Kansas Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Thursday, March 20, 2025 (7:10 pm ET start time) is Kansas 73 Arkansas 71.

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Arkansas Razorbacks: 4-8 ATS as a neutral court underdog of 6 points or less or pick. 10-21 ATS when playing only their 2nd game in 8 days. 23-30 ATS versus teams who are called for 17 or less fouls/game. 23-16 1H UNDER after 1 or more consecutive losses. 25-18 1H UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 80%).

Kansas Jayhawks: 9-5 1H ATS as a neutral court favorite or pick. 16-8 1H ATS off a loss against a conference rival. 4-0 1H ATS in a postseason tournament game. 7-0 UNDER as a neutral court favorite of 6 points or less or pick. 27-19 UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 80%). 

Arkansas Razorbacks:  A. Thiero (F) Doubtful - Knee. B. Fland (G) Out - Hand.

Kansas Jayhawks:  S. Moore (G) Questionable - Foot. Z. Clemence (F) Out - Groin. J. McDowell (G) Out - Redshirt. N. Shelby (G) Out - Undisclosed. E. Jackson (G) Out - Knee.

"We have ties and he won a national championship against me, I won a national championship against him. We've played, he's beaten us in Rupp (at Kentucky), we've beaten him in Allen (at Kansas). I mean, we've done this at a level for a long, long time, both of us. And I hate to play people that are friends or that I know well, but when you're in this thing, you're just, ‘Who are we playing? All right, let's see what we have to do to try to win.'" - John Calipari on playing Kansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

"Trust me on this: whether you're a 3 or a 7 or a 10 or whatever you are, there could be an advantage playing a team that could be maybe a 15 or 16 that, obviously, you may have more depth or more size or more talent in the first-round game. But after that game, you got to win five games against people who are all really good. In this particular situation, if you're not a 1 or 2, you got to win six games against people who are all really good." - Bill Self on playing Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

J. Davis 

Z. Ivisic 

K. Knox 

A. Thiero 

D. Wagner

K. Adams 

H. Dickinson 

R. Griffen 

D. Harris 

Z. Mayo

PPG: A. Thiero (15.7)

APG: B. Fland (5.7)

Reb/G: A. Thiero (6)

PPG: H. Dickinson (17.4)

APG: D. Harris (5.8)

Reb/G: H. Dickinson (9.9)

Coaches:

Arkansas Razorbacks: John Calipari (1st season)

Kansas Jayhawks: Bill Self (22nd season)