SEC betting action gets the spotlight ESPN treatment on Saturday night when the No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats and No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide square off from the Coleman Coliseum in the rival’s final clash of the regular season. Kentucky covered a fourth straight Wednesday night after taking the wood to Vandy at home to tally win No. 18 overall and move a game over .500 in conference play (7-6). Nate Oats’ kids suffered their first two-game losing streak of the year that same night after allowing Missouri to hit the century mark in a 12-point loss and non-cover.
Bama went into Lexington and scored the 102-97 outright road win as 2.5-point dogs back in mid-January. The triumph moved the them to 5-5 straight up (SU) and 6-4 against the spread (ATS) versus the Wildcats under Oats’ watch. The 199 combined points smashed the 178.5-point total pushing the over to 3-1 in the last four meetings. Look for the crypto sportsbook to install the Crimson Tide around 8-point favorites on the College Basketball odds with the total lined in the high 170s if not low 180s.
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Kentucky Wildcats
It was a tale of two halves for the Wildcats on Wednesday night. After allowing Vanderbilt to shoot 49 percent in the first half—powered by 20 points in the paint and an 18-12 rebounding edge—Kentucky tightened the defensive screws after the break, limiting the Commodores to 30 percent shooting while conceding just 12 rebounds and 14 points in the paint. After going into the break leading by one (41-40), the Wildcats erupted over the final 20 minutes shooting a blistering 65 percent from the field and draining half of its attempted long range shots.
With starters Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson again out of the mix, Otega Oweh picked up the slack going for a game-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting while also reeling in a team-high seven boards. Amari Williams and Koby Brea chipped in with 17 and 12 respectively, with the latter draining 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Kentucky has now reached the 80+ point plateau in three of its last five games, and will be in a position to do so again in this spot against Alabama’s porous defense (No. 349).
Alabama Crimson Tide
Since increasing its win streak to seven straight after going into Austin and skunking the Texas Longhorns, the Crimson Tide has dropped two straight to Auburn and Mizzou and looked terrible in doing so. They went into the break trailing 42-33 and then proceeded to give up 52 points in the second half to fall by a 94-85 final count. Then on Wednesday night, Alabama got manhandled on the road by the Tigers who scored 110 points equating to the most Missouri’s program has scored since joining the SEC.
Bama sat back and watched the Tigers score the game’s first 12 points, and then proceeded to give up 47 more en route to trailing 59-46 at the break. Despite Mark Sears' game-high 35 points, including five three-pointers, Alabama’s defense had no answer for Mizzou’s balanced attack. The Tigers dominated inside with 40 points in the paint while also knocking down nine shots from beyond the arc. Alabama shot an impressive 53.8% from the field, drained 13 three-pointers, and converted 15-of-21 free throws, yet never truly threatened to take control of the game.
Kentucky at Alabama Same Game Parlay Picks
The first showdown between these clubs was a fun watch. Both teams ran up and down the court resulting in 78 possessions and 61 attempted threes. However, Butler and Robinson partook in that matchup and combined for 28 points, five rebounds, and eight assists. They also connected on 5-of-12 shots from beyond the arc. Likely not able to give it a go going by Mark Pope’s address to the media before the Vanderbilt game, neither is likely to take the floor for the rematch. With that, the Wildcats will be without two key starters that played in the first go-round yet Kentucky still lost the game and failed to cover as 2.5-point home favorites.
I can’t help but think the Crimson Tide takes to their home hardwood with a vengeance after what’s transpired in their last two games. Wednesday night was humiliating. As tempting the points may look for those gravitating to the road dogs, caution is advised. Many will assume this rematch mirrors the first showdown, but I’m not among them. The total will also be set sky high, due to Alabama serving up 80+ points in each of its last four games—again, buyer beware! With Kentucky without two standout performers and Bama excelled at getting to the charity stripe (No. 20), the Wildcats’ lack of depth could be a major factor. It won’t be for the faint of heart, but I’m laying the chalk and hitting the under for this matchup’s parlay picks.
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (ATS)
KENTUCKY/ALABAMA UNDER
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