The Kentucky Wildcats have been on an impressive streak of late, but they are still in third place in the SEC, so they must keep on rolling to claim another conference championship. Kentucky has a tough matchup next time out when it hits the road to face off against the Florida Gators.
Florida has been up and down in conference play but has a talented team and the home court advantage. Kentucky figures to be the favorite in this one but if it isn’t sharp the Gators have what it takes to pull off an upset which will improve its hopes of making March Madness.
This game is crucial for both teams and it could be a competitive matchup in NCAA men’s basketball betting lines.
This NCAA basketball game between the Kentucky Wildcats and Florida Gators will be held at Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Florida at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 2nd, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2019 NCAA basketball season.
Odds Analysis
Kentucky has a record of 17-3 on the season. The Wildcats have gone 6-1 in the SEC, losing early to Alabama by a bucket but since bouncing back. Kentucky has gone 4-1 on the road this season, which included a 35-point win over Vanderbilt last time out.
Florida has a mark of 12-8 overall and has gone 4-3 in the conference. The Gators have won three of their past four games. While the overall record isn’t great, the schedule has been tough and Florida is better than it would seem at first glance.
Key Stat
2. That’s the number of games Florida has lost by 12 points or more this season as it has generally stayed close. One of those came in the season opener to the No. 17 Florida State Seminoles. The Gators followed that up with a five-point loss to Oklahoma, a seven-point loss to Butler and a four-point loss to No. 10 Michigan State in the non-conference slate.
In SEC play, Florida has fallen to South Carolina by a bucket, to No. 3 Tennessee by 11 points, No. 24 Mississippi State by three and to TCU by five. The Gators may not be a dominant team but they have had some bad luck in close games.
Player To Watch
P.J. Washington -- Kentucky has some good balance in its starting lineup, but the player that has really excelled is Washington. The sophomore forward is having a really nice season, averaging 13.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
Washington is shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from three-point range. Washington has scored as least 20 points in each of his past three games, including 26 last time out in the easy win over Vanderbilt.
Florida must make others beat them because Washington is playing well and is efficient from the floor.
Free NCAA Basketball ATS Picks
Kentucky is trailing Tennessee and LSU in the SEC standings but is playing well and is only one game back. The Wildcats should be able to stay there with a victory in this game, but don’t underestimate Florida. The spread is likely to be too big in this one. Roll with the Gators to cover in NCAA basketball wagering.
NCAA Basketball Pick: Kentucky Wildcats 76, Florida Gators 73
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