by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Jan 04, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Where to watch: ESPN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: LSU -1; O/U 138.5
BetMGM: LSU -1.5; O/U 140.5
Caesars: LSU -1; O/U 140.5
Season record
No. 16 Kentucky: 11-2 (1-0 SEC)
No. 21 LSU: 12-1 (0-1 SEC)
A good week for Doc's Sports, who is 5-0-0 in the last week. What lies ahead with the uncertainty of the college basketball schedule? As long as games are played, you can expect the best here. Catch Doc’s plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Kentucky - LSU preview and analysis
Recent form
Kentucky: won four straight; won 92-48 vs. High Point on Dec. 31
LSU: lost 70-55 at No. 9 Auburn on Dec. 29
This might be the game on the SEC's calendar that's going to be the measuring stick.
The Kentucky Wildcats, the cream of the crop in the conference for so long, are taking on the LSU Tigers in a top-25 matchup that could alter the early course of this conference.
You look over the years and it's no secret that Kentucky has run the roost for so long under John Calipari. The Wildcats are off to another strong start winning 11 of 13 to begin the campaign and are on a 4-game winning streak that's been a dominant stretch. All wins have come by double digits, all at home, including a 29-point win against the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Kentucky is coming off a 44-point win over High Point to improve to 10-0 at home to begin this season. Kellan Grady knocked down seven 3-pointers to finish with 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting, while Oscar Tshiebwe had 15 points and eight rebounds.
"Coach mentioned during starting lineups he was going to run a couple sets to give me the opportunity to get a couple shots," said Grady.
This might be the game on the SEC's calendar that's going to be the measuring stick.
The Kentucky Wildcats, the cream of the crop in the conference for so long, are taking on the LSU Tigers in a top-25 matchup that could alter the early course of this conference.
You look over the years and it's no secret that Kentucky has run the roost for so long under John Calipari. The Wildcats are off to another strong start winning 11 of 13 to begin the campaign and are on a 4-game winning streak that's been a dominant stretch. All wins have come by double digits, all at home, including a 29-point win against the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Kentucky is coming off a 44-point win over High Point to improve to 10-0 at home to begin this season. Kellan Grady knocked down seven 3-pointers to finish with 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting, while Oscar Tshiebwe had 15 points and eight rebounds.
"Coach mentioned during starting lineups he was going to run a couple sets to give me the opportunity to get a couple shots," said Grady.
LSU is coming off its first loss of the season on Dec. 29, a 15-point humbling experience against No. 9 Auburn. LSU shot just 28.6 percent from the field and an abysmal 6 of 29 (20.7%) as the Tigers fell behind by 11 at halftime.
Xavier Pinson had 13 points but shot only 3 of 11, and Darius Days was the only other starter to reach double figures with 11 points on 4 of 14 shooting (3 of 12 from 3-point range). The three other starters -- Mwani Wilkinson, Eric Gaines and and Efton Reid -- combined to shoot 4 of 19 from the floor.
Xavier Pinson had 13 points but shot only 3 of 11, and Darius Days was the only other starter to reach double figures with 11 points on 4 of 14 shooting (3 of 12 from 3-point range). The three other starters -- Mwani Wilkinson, Eric Gaines and and Efton Reid -- combined to shoot 4 of 19 from the floor.
Prediction
The play of the home team coming back from a tough loss is normally a right spot, but there's something about Kentucky on the road in a big game that brings out the best in Calipari. When in doubt, go with Cal. Kentucky by 7
Betting trends
Kentucky is 0-8 ATS in their last eight Tuesday games, but are 4-0 in their last four.
The road team has covered four of the last five.
The underdog is 9-4 ATS in the last 13.
Projected starting lineup
Kentucky:
PG: Sahvir Wheeler
SG: TyTy Washington
SF: Kellan Grady
PF: Keion Brooks Jr.
C: Oscar Tshiebwe
SF: Kellan Grady
PF: Keion Brooks Jr.
C: Oscar Tshiebwe
LSU:
PG: Xavier Pinson
SG: Brandon Murray
SF: Mwani Wilkinson
PF: Darius Days
C: Efton Reid
SF: Mwani Wilkinson
PF: Darius Days
C: Efton Reid
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Kentucky - LSU prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily college basketball projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
