It is no surprise that the Kentucky Wildcats are a top five team and with a shot at the Southeastern Conference championship. Few teams recruit better raw talent than head coach John Calipari’s U of K program. But a new power has quickly emerged to challenge the Cats for SEC Supremacy. The top ranked Tennessee Volunteers have been transformed by head coach Rick Barnes. Both Tennessee and Kentucky have been profitable despite their recent notoriety with the gambling public. And while the Wildcats are more balanced the Vols can score better than almost anyone.
#1 Tennessee Volunteers vs. #5 Kentucky Wildcats
Date and Time: Saturday, February 16, 2019, 8 p.m. ET
Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
College Basketball Betting Online Odds at Bookmaker.eu: Check Back Later
Tennessee vs. Kentucky TV Coverage: ESPN
Odds Analysis
Live Betting action could be quite fluid throughout the game with the Tennessee team ranked first in the nation and Kentucky well regarded as a blue blood traditional power. This game could be a bargain hunter delight with the changing odds of live betting.
Current Form
The number one in the nation ranked Tennessee Volunteers are also making gamblers happy with a recent run of four payouts in their last six games. Six of Tennessee’s last ten games have gone over the total. Tennessee leads the SEC with a record of 23-1 straight up, 13-9-1 vs. the odds, and 13-10 over the total.
Despite their recent 73-71 home loss to the LSU Tigers, Kentucky has been one of the hottest teams on the college basketball board. The Wildcats have come away with the money in eight of their last nine games. U of K has gone under the total in eight of their last 10 games. Kentucky is now in third place in the SEC with a record of 20-4 straight up, 14-10 against the spread, and 9-15 under the total.
Matchup Metrics
Kentucky has demonstrated pretty good balance with national rankings of 61st for scoring offense and 41st for points allowed. U of K ranks 41st in the country for shooting percentage and 46th for free throws. Defensively U of K ranks 41st for shooting percentage against.
Tennessee ranks seventh in the nation for scoring offense. The sharpshooting Volunteers ranks second in the country for field goal percentage. UT ranks 12th in the country for free throw shooting. The Vols defense ranks 13th best in the country for shooting percentage against.
ATS Stats
Tennessee has been an excellent betting value on the road with Rick Barnes. UT has paid in a whopping 14 out of their last 18 games away from home. The Vols have gone over the total in seven out of their last nine road tilts. However, Kentucky has covered six of their last eight games at Rupp Arena with seven of their last nine matchups at home going under the total.
Head to Head
Head to head the Volunteers have had the recent edge on the board against Kentucky. The Volunteers have covered five of their last seven games against U of K with just one of their last six games going over the total. And at Rupp Arena the Vols have paid in three of their last five visits with none of those games going over the total.
Players to Watch
Tennessee is powered by forward Grant Williams and his 19.4 points with 7.4 rebounds per game. Forward PJ Washington, along with guards Keldon Johnson and Tyler Herro, lead Kentucky. All three players are over 13 points per game.
Free College Basketball Live Betting Odds Pick
Tennessee has shown the proven ability to get the money on the road and at Kentucky. Rick Barnes has done a terrific job in building an offensive juggernaut that is now among the nation’s elite.
College Basketball Live Betting Odds Picks: Tennessee Volunteers
College Basketball Live Betting Odds Score Prediction: Tennessee 83, Kentucky 80
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