The Kentucky Wildcats are favored to capture the SEC once again this season and can keep distancing itself from the rest of the competition with some early-conference victories. Next up is a showdown against the Texas A&M Aggies, who will head to Rupp Arena as significant underdogs.
Kentucky is one of the most powerful programs in the country and has overwhelming talent. As long as the Wildcats play to their capability they should be able to emerge victorious in this matchup.
Don't miss the hardwood action from the Rupp Arena at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN.
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Odds at BookMaker.eu
Kentucky is 11-2 straight up and 9-4 against the spread on the season. They have been favored in every game this season and that won’t change here in this one. The Wildcats have played in seven home games where a spread was available and covered five times.
Texas A&M is 8-4 straight up and 5-5 against the spread. The Aggies have gone on the road four times this season and covered twice, but those were all neutral site games. This will be their first true road test of the season and it will be at one of the tougher places to play in the conference in raucous Rupp Arena.
Key Stat
10. Texas A&M has lost four games on the year, but all have come by 10 points or fewer. Not getting blown out bodes well for the future as the Aggies go up against some talented teams like Kentucky.
Texas A&M’s first loss came by two points to USC, and then it lost by seven to UCLA. Arizona knocked off the Aggies by only four points but Tennessee beat them by 10 last time out.
The Aggies will look to bounce back but may have a tough time keeping this one within shouting distance as Kentucky is one of the best teams they play. Texas A&M has four players averaging in double figures, led by Tyler Davis with 14.3 points per game, and needs all of them to shoot well against Kentucky.
Player to Watch
Malik Monk. The Kentucky true freshman guard is leading the team in scoring this season, averaging 22.4 points per game. Monk put up 47 points in the narrow win over University of North Carolina on December 17th and scored 34 points against Ole Miss on December 29th.
The 18-year-old was a five-star recruit out of high school and has lived up to the hype early on in his collegiate career. He is shooting 50.5 percent from the field this year. Monk is so good he may be able to leave school early for the NBA, so enjoy him while you can at the collegiate level.
Monk leads an offense that is averaging 94.5 points a game. The Wildcats sit third in the nation for points per game and the biggest issue for the Aggies will be stopping all of the talented, athletic players.
The first goal should be slowing down Monk and making the other players beat them.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Kentucky has a couple losses on the season against elite opponents, but has still proven to be one of the better teams in the country. The Wildcats usually tend to get better as the season goes on because they have a lot of new talent that needs time to jell.
Kentucky is very good at home and will be looking to pull away early in this one so Texas A&M’s confidence doesn’t build. However, the Aggies have shown the ability to be competitive.
While the Wildcats should be able to take care of business in this one, keep an eye on the spread because Texas A&M will be getting a handful of points and may be able to come away with the cover.
College Basketball Odds: Kentucky 88, Texas A&M 74
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