Kentucky is still a ranked team, but they haven’t quite had the year everyone expected. They had a chance for a big statement win on Saturday, but eventually fell to the Jayhawks in overtime. Returning to SEC play, the Wildcats will look to return to the win column on Tuesday against a middling Tennessee squad.
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HOW THE KENTUCKY WILDCATS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Kentucky possesses a very strong offense that should play up to the Vols who are allowing 75.9 PPG top rank out as the No. 273 scoring defense in the country.
As a team, the Wildcats are shooting 47.4 percent from the floor and averaging 78.2 PPG. They also have a distinct edge on the boards with 39.3 RPG thanks to strong rebounders at nearly every position.
Speaking of positions, the Wildcats have a backcourt that’s three deep with players averaging at least 10 PPG. The leader, of course, is freshman Jamal Murray. The youngster just gets better and better as the season goes on. He’s averaging 17.4 PPG overall and has tallied double-digits in 19 straight games and 20 of 21 overall.
Alongside Murray, Tyler Ulis and Isaiah Briscoe are each performing well. Of the bunch, Briscoe is shooting the best from the floor at 45.2 percent while Ulis leads the team with his 124 assists.
Up front, Alex Poythress is shooting 59.2 percent from the floor while averaging nearly 10 PPG. He’s also the team leader in rebounds ripping down an average of 6.7 per game.
Look for the guards to deliver as normal and while the Wildcats are a little shallower in the backcourt than they’re used to, the Vols provide little threat up front. Talented youngster, Skal Labissiere, may be coming around, too. He’s been a bit of a disappointment this season after a nice start, but has reached double digit scoring in two of the Wildcats’ last four games.
As for the opposition, the Vols have dropped back-to-back games SU and ATS and are just 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games.
HOW THE TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
On January 16, the Wildcats fell to Auburn on the road, 75-70. That loss gives Tennessee hope of not only covering the spread, but pulling the upset victory as well.
Tennessee’s offense will need to pick up from the 120 cumulative points scored over its last two games, but a return home should help. In their last home game, the Volunteers scored 78-points and Tennessee has tickled the twine for at least 74 in each home game this year.
Look for Kevin Punter to lead the way. The guard is averaging 23 PPG and should find success, even against Murray and company for the Wildcats.
Punter has scored at least 23-points in four of his last five games. Between Punter and Robert Hubbs III, Tennessee has plenty of talent in the backcourt. It’s the frontcourt that’s questionable, but the frontcourt is weaker for Kentucky, too, and Tennessee has Armani Moore averaging 11.6 PPG though his shooting percentage is quite low.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
A nice easy matchup is just what Kentucky needs after the overtime loss to Kansas.
The Wildcats could be in position for a bit of a letdown game, but John Calipari should have his kids ready to play coming off a tough to swallow defeat. The Wildcats have failed to impress this year and they’ll need to avoid another major hiccup like the loss to Auburn.
Punter gives the Vols a fighting chance, but the Wildcats’ roster is still too deep and too strong. Look for the Kentucky offense to take advantage of the weak Tennessee defense while the Wildcat defense holds its own against the Vols.
Kentucky as a team is holding the opposition to a 40.4 percent shooting mark from the floor and will look to parlay Tyler Ulis’s 26-points against Kansas into another big showing.
Kentucky 81, Tennessee 69
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Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers square off on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, at 7 p.m. ET at the Thompson-Boiling Arena. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
