Few could have predicted that both the Kansas Jayhawks and Kentucky Wildcats would enter their showdown coming off losses, but that is indeed the case. Each would love to clinch a No. 1 seed in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and this will be an important matchup for each side in the annual SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
These teams are pretty evenly matched, each placed among the top teams in the country. Kentucky is at home which should give it a slim edge. The Jayhawks lost to ranked for West Virginia on the road last time out and hope to play better in this one.
Don't miss the hardwood action from Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky at 6:25 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 28, 2017. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Saturday schedule.
Odds at BookMaker.eu
Kansas is 18-2 straight up but only 6-12 against the spread in the face of high expectations. The Jayhawks have played in five true road games this season and have only covered in one of them. They have only been the underdog twice this year, covering once and failing to the other time.
Kentucky is 17-3 straight up and 12-8 against the spread. The Wildcats have played in 11 home games this season and have covered in eight of them. Kentucky has been favored in every game this season, and even though Kansas is a fellow elite team, the home court advantage should be enough to keep that streak intact.
Key Stat
92.3. That’s the number of points Kentucky averages on the season, which is one of the highest marks nationally. Kansas must figure out a way to slow down the Wildcats in order to claim this victory.
Kentucky has four players who average in double figures, led by Malik Monk, who is putting up 21.9 points and 49.8 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from three-point range. De’Aaron Fox is adding 16.2 points, Isaiah Briscoe is averaging 14.1 points and Edrice Adebayo is contributing 13.5 points per contest.
Kentucky scored only 80 points last time out in a two-point loss to Tennessee, and while Kansas won’t completely shut down the Wildcats, holding them to around 80 would be a solid goal.
Player to Watch
Frank Mason III -- Kansas is led by its senior guard, who is a key player in many facets. Mason is averaging 19.9 points, 5.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
Mason is an impressive scorer, shooting 51.2 percent from the field and a blazing 52.8 percent from three-point range. He didn’t play particularly well last time out against the Mountaineers, scoring 15 points but shooting only 38 percent from the floor in the loss.
Mason should be able to put up big numbers in this game as it will be played at a fast pace. He has to make good decisions, as any bad passes could lead to fast-break points the other way.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Kansas may have a better record, but Kentucky’s point-differential is vastly better. The Wildcats’ conference isn’t as good but they played several top teams in the non-conference slate and equipped themselves well.
Kentucky is also at home, so all signs are pointing to a Wildcats win in this one. Neither team wants to drop to a two-game skid at this point in the season, but one team is going to have to face that.
The belief here is that the firepower possessed by Kentucky will be too much for the Jayhawks to handle. Kentucky can add a nice win to its resume by taking care of business in this critical elite clash.
College Basketball Odds: Kentucky 88, Kansas 81
BookMaker.eu offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu!
