No. 5 Kentucky will be laying big double-digits at home against Arizona State, but a big bounce-back effort is expected following their first loss of the season at UCLA last weekend.
You can bet the college basketball odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
HOW THE ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS WILL COVER THE SPREAD
New ASU coach Bobby Hurley’s tenure in Tempe got off to a rocky start when the Sun Devils lost their home opener to Sacramento State as an 18-point favorite. But Arizona State has bounced back with six wins including a mini-upset of No. 18 Texas A&M last time out on this court 67-54 despite shooting just 36 percent.
An overtime loss to Marquette also showed some of the shooting struggles this team may endure, as they are shooting just 43 percent from the field this season but worse against the quality opponents faced. Taking on a young but mostly talented Kentucky team that is top-15 in adjusted defensive efficiency will be a difficult assignment.
The Sun Devils play an aggressive man defense, but it will be tougher to hold off the ‘Cats with their awesome offensive rebounding. Arizona State has an even turnover margin, and to stay close in this contest the Sun Devils will need a huge game from senior Savon Goodman, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder at 13/8 per game who’s hitting 63 percent of his shots.
HOW THE KENTUCKY WILDCATS WILL COVER THE SPREAD
Kentucky is off to a 7-1 start and shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor. But the Wildcats are hitting less than 29 percent from beyond the arc. The offense and production should only improve as the young nucleus plays more time together on the court.
Better than 60 percent of the Wildcats points have been scored inside the arc, so they will pound the ball inside against a Sun Devils defense that is average defending the paint.
The Wildcats failed in their first road test at UCLA in an 87-77 loss last time out as a 7-point road favorite. They shot poorly and PG Tyler Ulis hit just 2-of-12 shots but was dealing with a hyperextended elbow injury. However, the ‘Cats were good enough to beat defending national champion Duke 74-63 on a neutral court this season while holding the Blue Devils under 40 percent shooting.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Kentucky will be laying double-digits in the mid to high-teens in this contest, and Arizona State has limited personnel to stay close in the second half.
Kentucky coach John Calipari has a loaded freshman class again and the Wildcats top two scorers are freshman guard Jamal Murray at 15 points per game and 6-foot 11 inch freshman forward Skai Labissiere who also scores 12 points per game on 62 percent shooting.
Despite the youth still learning to play together, Kentucky is still top-10 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency.
The Wildcats have clearly been overvalued in going 0-5 ATS in their last five NCAAB games including as at least a 20-point favorite in the four games prior to UCLA. Arizona State is 3-0 SU and ATS as an underdog this year, but the Wildcats have a solid height and front court advantage in this match-up along with the superior point guard play to roll at home.
Kentucky 79, Arizona State 60
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The matchup between the Arizona State Sun Devils and Kentucky Wildcats will go down Saturday, December 12, 2015, at 3:15 p.m. ET at Rupp Arena. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
