2017 SEC Tournament : Kentucky vs. Arkansas preview, prediction, TV schedule

The Kentucky Wildcats will head into the 2017 SEC Tournament final against the Arkansas Razorbacks full of confidence, but can they hold off an upset?

TV schedule: Sunday, March 12, 1:00 p.m. ET, ESPN

Arena: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

The Arkansas Razorbacks have earned a much-deserved place in the 2017 SEC Tournament final, as they dominated the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second half of the semifinal game in Nashville. Arkansas, who have been fantastic all season long, will look for an opportunity to prove to the country that they are a talented, NCAA Tournament-run-ready team heading into March.

Next up for Arkansas, however, is a matchup with the Kentucky Wildcats. The Razorbacks were destroyed 97-71 in their first meeting earlier this season.

The Wildcats were pushed harder in their semifinal game with the Alabama Crimson Tide than they expected, but were able to grind out a 79-74 win over Avery Johnson’s talented defensive team. The Wildcats have won 10-straight games and will fully believe that they have the momentum – and the talent – to win out all the way to the National Championship.

I really thought Vanderbilt would beat Arkansas and then go on to beat Kentucky in the final. Narrowly beating Ole Miss and then handily defeating Vandy, Arkansas proved me wrong and could do so on Sunday, too. I really want to pick the Razorbacks to upset Kentucky and take home the trophy, because this team gets no respect from the national media when what they have going on is something special.

Unfortunately, I do not see that upset happening. This Kentucky team looks to be peaking at the right time, and, even when Malik Monk plays poorly, finds a way to win.

Next: 5 predictions for the SEC Tournament

Kentucky wins big and heads into the 2017 NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed, as expected.

Prediction: Kentucky 79, Arkansas 66