You can already bet on next season's Kentucky vs. Arkansas game(s)

Given the events of the past week, Kentucky vs. Arkansas is the most anticipated matchup of the 2024-25 college basketball season. The SEC has yet to release the 2024-25 basketball schedule or even each team’s opponents — remember that Texas and Oklahoma are joining the fold — but the Cats and the Razorbacks will almost certainly be paired together for at least one game, most likely two. With John Calipari now at Arkansas and Mark Pope succeeding him at Kentucky, the SEC would be fools not to arrange those blockbuster matchups.

We’ve got at least eight and a half months to prepare for Kentucky’s first game against Calipari since the Cats lost to Memphis in the 2006 Maui Invitational. That’s not stopping sportsbooks from putting odds on it. FanDuel released “Calipari Specials” so you can bet on the regular season games in Lexington and/or Fayetteville. As you might expect — especially given the roster uncertainty — the home teams are the favorite in both scenarios.

• Kentucky to win at Rupp Arena vs. Arkansas: -162
• Kentucky to lose at Rupp Arena vs. Arkansas: +125
• Kentucky to win at Bud Walton Arena vs. Arkansas: +170
• Kentucky to lose at Bud Walton Arena vs. Arkansas: -228

So, in order of likelihood per these odds:

1. Arkansas win in Bud Walton
2. Kentucky win in Rupp
3. Arkansas win in Rupp
4. Kentucky win in Bud Walton

Should one of these games not take place, the bets will be voided.

What will the SEC basketball schedule look like next season with Texas and Oklahoma joining the league? Earlier this year, a SEC spokesman confirmed to the Herald-Leader that it will still consist of 18 games, but the format will be slightly different. Each team will have:

• Two permanent opponents they play twice a season, home and away (down from three previously)
• A third opponent they will place twice, home and away. This will rotate each season
• One game against each remaining SEC team, so 12 total, six on the road and six at home

Something tells me Arkansas will be one of Kentucky’s “permanent” opponents for years to come.

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