NCAAB: Wildcats vs Cardinals Predictions
College basketball betting action sees the Kentucky Wildcats taking on the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday December 27 at the KFC YUM Brands Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Cappers Picks provides free NCAAB handicapping tips all season long.
There may not be a bigger regular season matchup than this between two of the sports superpowers…who also reside in the same state.
Bet on College Hoops
#1 Kentucky Wildcats (12-0) vs. #4 Louisville Cardinals (11-0)
Saturday December 27
2:00PM
KFC YUM Brands Center – Louisville, KY
ESPN2
NCAAB Betting Lines: UK -5.5
NCAAB Betting Total: 127
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Kentucky
Everyone knew this Kentucky team would be excellent but I think it has been surprising how dominant they have been defensively.
We knew they had tons of size but they really get after it on the defensive end and that as much as anything is what it going to make them very tough to beat this season.
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I hate to kick a guy but it might have been good for the team to lose a player (in this case Alex Poythress) to injury. That breaks up the whole platoon thing and means there is one less mouth to feed.
Thus far the star for Kentucky has been junior Willie Cauley-Stein. He can stuff a stat sheet like few can leading the team in rebounding and steal while 62% of his shots from the field.
The Wildcats are very efficient with their bigs with Dakari Johnson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Marcus Lee all making more than half of their shots.
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They are all strong rebounders too and it is only half a joke to say the Wildcats best play is a missed outside shot.
Louisville
The Cardinals come into this one undefeated but there was nearly some extra drama as their top player Montrezl Harrell was in an altercation and suspended.
Fortunately it was just for a single game so the Cardinals will have their full compliment as they try and take down the top team in the nation.
Under any circumstances this is a big game but with both without a loss and ranked in the Top 4 this might be about as big a battle as there has ever been in the Bluegrass State.
Harrell is a tremendous player and maybe the best power forward in the country but he is going to find it very difficult to go against the towers of Kentucky.
His recent absences have forced guard Terry Rozier to really step it up and he has delivered with 48 points over his last two games.
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Rozier looks like the heir apparent to Russdiculous and they are going to need him to play well in this one if they want to get the upset.
NCAAB Handicapping Trends:
Under is 7-1 in UK last 8 overall.
Under is 7-1 in UK last 8 non-conference games.
UK are 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 games overall.
LOU are 1-5-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Under is 13-4 in the last 17 meetings.
UK are 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
NCAAB Prediction: n/a
4* NCAAB Score prediction: Kentucky 74 – Louisville 67
I want to predict the upset but I just can’t see it. Louisville will make it difficult for the Cats but I think they continue their unbeaten streak. This will probably be the smallest UK line of the season.
Check out our Updated College Basketball Betting Odds.
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