Two of college basketball’s most celebrated coaches will meet in Round 1 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
Bill Self’s Kansas Jayhawks are a 4.5-point favorite over John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks on Thursday evening.
It’s been an up-and-down season for both sides, but one of these combatants does seem to be getting its house in order at the right time.
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Kansas vs. Arkansas Prediction
Arkansas has had to grind through the 2024-25 season.
Playing in the ultra-competitive SEC, the Razorbacks dealt with key injuries, a brutal schedule, and an adjustment period to their new head coach.
Despite the chaos, the Hogs were able to put together a respectable 20-13 campaign that included an 8-10 mark in the SEC. And while that W-L ledger doesn’t pop at you, it’s worth noting that Arkansas won eight of its final 10 regular season contests before splitting two games in the SEC Tournament.

The Hogs seem to be trending in the right direction at the right time.
The same can’t be said for Kansas.
The Jayhawks lost seven of its final 13 games in the regular season and then needed overtime to avoid a shocking defeat to UCF in their opening game of the Big 12 Tournament.
Kansas exited the tournament in a lopsided loss to Arizona in its next contest.
Kansas vs. Arkansas Pick
This game presents a classic handicapping puzzle.
The Jayhawks are the favorite and boast the better statistical profile, but their game is heading in the wrong direction at the worst possible time.
Arkansas is the lesser of the two combatants on paper, but the Hogs boast the stronger form and seem to have the higher ceiling.
Smells like an upset.
Pick: Arkansas +180
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.