College Basketball on Saturday and we will see the Missouri Tiger travel to Lexington, Kentucky take on the Kentucky Wildcats. The game is scheduled for a 9:00 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on ESPN U. Currently the Odds for the game have Wichita State favored by 2 points while the total sits at 147.
Analysis: Missouri is fresh off its most impressive win of the season, as it defeated fifth-ranked Florida on Tuesday night, 63-60, to improve to 19-7 overall and 8-5 in the SEC. Much of the Tigers' success this season has come thanks to its undefeated mark at Mizzou Arena (15-0), but they have run into significantly more trouble away from home, winning just one of seven true road matchups. The Tigers trailed for virtually the entire game on Tuesday night, including by 13 points with under 11 minutes to play, but they battled all the way back and took control on a Laurence Bowers jumper at the 1:15 mark to lift his team to victory over first-place Florida. On the season, Missouri nets a stellar 76.0 ppg and boasts one of the best rebounding margins in the nation (+10.2). The Tigers' strength in the frontcourt comes thanks to the strong play of Bowers (14.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.1 bpg), Ross (10.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Alex Oriakhi (10.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg). Pressey (11.8 ppg) is one of the top floor generals in the nation, handing out 6.9 apg. Rounding out one of the deepest scoring rotations around is Brown (14.5 ppg) and Keion Bell (11.6 ppg).
Kentucky entered Wednesday's tilt with Vanderbilt having lost two straight for the first time all season, and while it suffered a scare late in the contest, it ultimately held off the Commodores, 74-70. The Wildcats' season (18-8, 9-4) would be considered impressive by most programs' standards, but the campaign has been a disappointment for a team with such high preseason expectations. The Wildcats appeared to be in good shape up by 13 with less than eight minutes to play, and although Vanderbilt got within one possession following a 10-0 run, Kentucky would hold on for the win. Plugging into the starting lineup for injured superstar Nerlens Noel was Willie Cauley-Stein, who notched a career-best performance with 20 points (on 8-of-10 from the field), seven rebounds and three blocks. Even without Noel (10.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 4.4 bpg, 2.1 spg), who will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, the Wildcats still have plenty of talent, with Goodwin (13.7 ppg), Kyle Wiltjer (11.6 ppg) and Alex Poythress (11.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg) the top scoring options. Harrow (9.5 ppg), Julius Mays (9.4 ppg) and Cauley-Stein (8.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.7 bpg) are also crucial to the depth for UK, which nets greater than 10 ppg more at the offensive end (74.3 ppg) than it allows to foes (64.0 ppg).
Pick: I like the Under in this one. Missouri's last 3 games have averaged just 127 ppg, while their road games have averaged just 139.8 ppg, with all 5 of their SEC road games putting up 144 points or less. Kentucky's home games have averaged 141.1 ppg, while their last 5 overall have put up just 135.4 ppg. Both teams have played good defense this year as Missouri has allowed just 65.7 ppg on 40.1% shooting this year, while the Cats have allowed 64 ppg on 39.1% shooting overall and 60.5 ppg on 37.8% shooting at home. Both team will look to push tempo, but I still expect the defenses to make enough stops to get the Under here.
NBA and College Basketball Betting Tips: 2nd Half Wagering
What NBA and college basketball bettors need to know about making 2nd half wagers during games, with tips from Pregame.com's Bryan Leonard and host Steve Fezzik.