The Kentucky Wildcats are awfully perplexing this season. They've only been beaten one time, and outside of their game against UCLA, they've comfortably put away foes. However, thanks to the perception around them, they've only covered three of their first 10 games. They're sure to be asked to lay a big number once again on Saturday at the Barclays Center when they take on the slumping Ohio State Buckeyes.
You can bet on college basketball odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
SCHEDULING
The Wildcats always have a bit of an advantage when they play in these NBA arenas. We've already seen UK play games at American Airlines Arena in Miami and at the United Center in Chicago. Ohio State did play a game in Miami alongside Kentucky against Memphis, but it was beaten in that game.
You know that the moment of playing on national television at the Barclays Center isn't going to be too big for Kentucky. We're not suggesting that it is for Ohio State, but it's something for live bettors to keep in mind, especially after the horrid start the Bucks got off to at Connecticut last weekend in a game which was also hyped a ton by CBS.
There isn't a lot of concern here for either team in terms of scheduling, though. The Buckeyes have what should be a cupcake game against Northern Illinois on Wednesday and a duel against Mercer before the Christmas break. Perhaps a slight edge goes to UK here, knowing that the Wildcats are off all week long preparing for this one.
KEY MATCHUP
Marc Loving is a really nice college player. He's 6-foot-7, and he's clearly his team's best scorer and rebounder. However, there's a reason he hasn't been the primary option on this team throughout his entire career in Columbus. The Buckeyes really needed that swingman or elite point guard around him to give him something to work with.
As a result, Loving is stuck taking on teams all by himself. Good luck doing that again these Wildcats. Kentucky can throw Alex Poythress, Marcus Lee and Skal Labissiere at Loving, three massive, lanky players who are pains defensively.
The only way Ohio State makes for good live betting in this one is if Loving goes superhuman and figures out how to get around all three. However, in all likelihood, the key for the Buckeyes is going to be getting the ball into others' hands to score. If neither of those things happen, live bettors will consistently find themselves on the better side with Kentucky than Ohio State.
KEY STAT
Take away Loving, and the rest of the Buckeyes are only shooting 31 percent from beyond the arc this year. That's just not nearly a good enough stat against a team like Kentucky.
Sure, the Wildcats aren't quite as dominant defensively as they have been in recent years, but live bettors need to know that they can turn it on at the drop of a hat. You see this all the time again them, where teams have to scramble at the end of the shot clock to heave a wild one up, and that's what starts transition the other way for an easy bucket.
The teams that have had success this year against Kentucky's defense have done so by knocking down some threes and forcing all five men to defend the whole court. Not only can the Buckeyes not really put five three-point shooters on the court at the same time, but they probably aren't hitting more than 25 percent of those triples. If that trend of dull possessions and bad shots gets started early, live bet the heck out of the Wildcats.
BookMaker 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 Sportsbook! The matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and Ohio State Buckeyes will go down Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. ET at the Barclays Center. The matchup will be televised live on CBS.
