Game Time: 1:00 PM  ET, Saturday, February 19th, 2022

Venue: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky

Where to Watch:  CBS

 

DraftKings Sportsbook:  Kentucky -6.5; O/U 155.5

Caesars:  Spread: Kentucky -6.5; O/U 155

VegasInsider:  Spread: Kentucky -6.5; O/U 155

WynnBet: Spread: Kentucky -6.5; O/U 154.5

Alabama: 17-9 on the season

Kentucky: 21-5 on the season

This is a BIG TIME college basketball matchup. #4 is playing #25 The repercussions of an upset would be felt deeply across the top 10 teams.  As college basketball prepares for conference tournaments and NCAA seeding in March Madness… these last few big matchups will separate the wheat from the chaff.  Kentucky will be favored no doubt…but will they beat the SPREAD?

Alabama is a quality college basketball team this season.  They have won 6 of their last ten games.  A big problem facing the Crimson Tide in this matchup is February 5th.  February 5th is the last time Alabama faced Kentucky… they got stung with an 11 point loss and loss ATS.  The final score UK 66 - ALA 55.  Kentucky blanketed poor Alabama on defense, completely restricting the scoring… and Alabama was playing at home in that one.  Alabama has shown an ability to beat almost all comers… the problem is they can’t seem to hang with quality programs.  The last four losses were against:  Kentucky, Mississippi State, Georgia and Auburn… So basically any big school or [program can take Alabama to the woodshed.

Kentucky is an absolute basketball blue blood.  If you even casually watch the NBA then you have seen plenty of Kentucky players post college.  Kentucky always seems to have the best young talent.  They don’t win it all often enough… but they dominate the NBA draft in most years.  Kentucky has won 8 of their last ten games.  Yet they have only gone 4-6 ATS during that stretch.  The two teams that beat them were Auburn and Tennessee. 

Last night, Will Rogers cashed his Total of the Week in College Hoops. It was a 24-point winner with the Over in CS Bakersfield-UC Riverside. That wasn't his only win on Thursday, though. He finished up 4-1 overall! Since Dec 1, his picks have made an EYE-POPPING $33,530! Go Get it!!  Get Will Rogers’ pick!!  It's available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. All your NCAA basketball needs for the entire college basketball season!  All your needs in any sport for that matter! 

Alabama is 17-9 on the season, but 9-16-1 ATS.  They have logged 17 Overs and 9 Unders.  They are 2-5 in road games.

Kentucky is 21-5 on the season, but 12-14 ATS.  They have notched 12 Overs and 14 Unders.  They are a super dominant 15-0 in home games.

Alabama is 17th in scoring with 80.4 ppg, 17th in rebounds with 36.8 per game, and 162nd in AST/TO ratio with 1.0.  They are a leaky screen door on defense where they rank 323rd while allowing 75.5 ppg.

Kentucky is 13th ion scoring with 80.6 ppg, 6th in rebounds with 37.8 per game, and 26th in AST/TO ratio with 1.4.  On defense they rank 57th while allowing a small 64.7 ppg form opponents.

Our prediction for Saturday, February 19th is…  Kentucky 88 - Alabama 71

Kentucky will win decisively!  Alabama has some offensive talent that amounts to a defense so bad they wouldn’t stop most groups playing at the YMCA.  Alabama is good, but not even in the same league as Kentucky.  The Over will also be favored in this matchup.

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Alabama is 6 Over and 1 Under in road games this season.

Kentucky is 12 Over and 2 Under off a loss against a conference rival.

Alabama is 2-10 ATS versus conference opponents this season.

Alabama: Guard N. Burnett (knee) Out for season.

Kentucky: Guard T. Washington Jr.  (ankle) Quest ** Guard C. Frederick (lower body) Out

Alabama: Noah Gurley, Jaden Shackelford, Charles Bediako, Jahvon Quinerly, Keon Ellis

Kentucky: Sahvir Wheeler, Tyty Washington Jr, Keion Brooks JR, Kellan Grady, Oscar Tshiebwe

Alabama

Points: Jaden Shackelford 17.1

Assists: Jahvon Quinerly 4.5

Rebounds: Keon Ellis 5.9

Steals: Keon Ellis 1.8

Blocks: Charles Bediako 1.7

Kentucky

Points: Oscar Tshiebwe 16.2

Assists: Sahvir Wheeler 7.1

Rebounds: Oscar Tshiebwe 15.3

Steals: Oscar Tshiebwe 2.0

Blocks: Oscar Tshiebwe 1.4

Where do you think Oscar will go in the draft?