Vanderbilt Commodores Betting Preview

Vanderbilt got off to a great start this year, but they’ve been choppy since early January amid some tough matchups. The Commodores beat MD Eastern Shore, Southeast Missouri State, Cal, Jackson State, Nevada, and Seton Hall out of the gate in their first six before a loss to Drake. Wins over Tennessee Tech, Virginia Tech, TCU, the Citadel, Austin Peay, New Orleans, and LSU came next, then losses to Mississippi State and Missouri. Since then it’s been a 4-5 run for the Commodores with wins over South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Texas. The losses otherwise have come versus Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee. That gives the Commodores a 17-8 overall run through their first 25 outings of the season.

In the Tennessee matchup on Saturday, the Commodores opened the game with a 44-31 advantage. Vanderbilt was outscored 50-32 the rest of the way however, and ended up losing 81-76 in the end. Leading the team in scoring was Jason Edwards with 24 points, one rebound, and one steal. Jaylen Carey was the only other player on the team to finish in double-figures, notching 18 points with seven rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes of work off the bench. Both Tyler Nickel and Chris Manon chipped in nine points each as well.

Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview

Over on the Kentucky side, they similarly began the year on a great run but started faltering a bit in mid-January. The Wildcats went 14-3 over their first 17 outings, falling to only Clemson, Ohio State, and Georgia. Kentucky beat Wright State, Bucknell, Duke, Lipscomb, Jackson State, Western Kentucky, Georgia State, Gonzaga, Colgate, Louisville, Brown, Florida, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M otherwise during that time. Since then the Wildcats are just 3-5 in their last eight outings. The wins were over Tennessee, South Carolina, and Tennessee again. The losses came versus Alabama, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Texas. The result so far has been a 17-8 overall record through 25 games this year also.

Matched up against Texas on the road Saturday, the Wildcats were looking good after the first half with a 41-37 edge. Kentucky was outscored 45-37 from there, however, and ended up falling 82-78 in the end. Leading the team in scoring was Otega Oweh with 20 points and five rebounds with a pair of steals. Amari Williams managed to double up with 18 points, 12 boards, and three assists, while Ansley Almonor added 11 points with three rebounds and one assist.

Why the Kentucky Wildcats will win

• Vanderbilt has lost each of its last nine night games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Kentucky has won 13 of its last 14 games at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Kentucky has won the first half in 19 of its last 20 night games at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Vanderbilt Commodores will win

• Kentucky has lost each of its last four night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• The road team has won the first half in each of Vanderbilt’s last five games.

Kentucky vs Vanderbilt Prediction

I’m going to lean toward Kentucky here. We should have a pretty good matchup on our hands regardless, though. The Wildcats are coming off a tough road loss versus a talented Texas team thanks to a slow second half. Kentucky was competitive on the boards in that one but shot a tepid 41.9 percent from the field with 15 turnovers for 21 Longhorns points. The Wildcats will be happy to get back home following four road games in their last seven outings (and two more road games within the next week).

Kentucky took a 74-69 road loss the last time these teams met up back on January 25. The Wildcats had a pretty miserable first half in that one (a 41-27 deficit) and couldn’t dig out of the hole. The rebounding was good for Kentucky (43-30), but they got into turnover trouble with 17 for 14 Commodores points. The Wildcats absolutely must remedy their ball control issues ahead of this matchup or they’re going to suffer a similar fate. With a home game and a revenge aspect to this one though, I like Kentucky to power it out.

Read the rest of "Kentucky vs Vanderbilt Prediction 2/19/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the Texas Longhorns vs. Kentucky Wildcats game let’s review the rules for FanDuel single game showdown contest.

FanDuel Single Game Contest Rules

Here are the single game contest rules. You have $60,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team MVP. The MVP accumulates 2x times the standard FanDuel fantasy points value.

The remaining four players in your lineup will be the star, pro, and flex plays. The star player will receive 1.5x the standard fantasy points value. The pro player will accumulate 1.2x the standard fantasy points value.

The final two flex positions will receive the standard points value. Having stated that, it is important for you to identify the correct player for your MVP position if you hope to win a FanDuel single game contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game contest, I highly recommend that you check out the FanDuel website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my FanDuel picks for tonight’s Kentucky Wildcats vs. Texas Longhorns matchup.

FanDuel NCAA Basketball DFS Picks

MVP-Otega Oweh, Guard, Kentucky Wildcats $11,000

Junior guard Otega Oweh has certainly been a standout performer for the Kentucky Wildcats this season. With that said, how has the talented young guard performed from a statistical perspective? Let’s examine Oweh’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 24 games that guard Otega Oweh has played for the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Oweh is averaging 16.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.5 blocks a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 23 games that Otega Oweh has played for the Kentucky Wildcats this season, Oweh has compiled a 49.1% field goal percentage, a 34.5% three-point percentage and a free throw percentage of 76.6%.

Last month, in the Vanderbilt Commodores 74-69 win over the Kentucky Wildcats, Kentucky guard Otega Oweh played exceptionally well. More specifically, Oweh compiled 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and one steal in the Commodores victory over the Kentucky Wildcats.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Vanderbilt Commodores win over the Kentucky Wildcats just mentioned, Otega Oweh accumulated a robust 37.9 FanDuel points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the MVP position for a FanDuel NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game DFS contest.

In my view, Otega Oweh is the most likely player to post the most FanDuel points in this NBA regular season game. For that specific reason, I am rolling with Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh at the MVP position for this one game FanDuel NCAA Showdown contest.

Star-Tre Johnson, Guard, Texas Longhorns $12,000

Freshman guard Tre Johnson has certainly been a key contributor to the Texas Longhorns starting lineup this season.

In the 23 games that guard Tre Johnson has played for the Texas Longhorns in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Johnson is averaging a rather impressive 27.5 FanDuel points a game.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (FanDuel price noted): Kadin Shedrick, Forward (Texas Longhorns) $9,500: Amari Williams, Forward (Kentucky Wildcats) $10,500.

Read the rest of "FanDuel NCAA Basketball Picks: Kentucky vs. Texas 2/15/25" at Sports Chat Place

Kentucky Look for Third Straight Win

Kentucky is playing well heading into this game and they have won two straight games. Two games ago against South Carolina, they won 80-57, and in the last game against Tennessee, they were able to secure the 75-64 victory. Kentucky had a huge game, shooting 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the three point line. Otega Oweh had a strong game putting up 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Ansley Almonor also put up 13 points. Kentucky’s defense was also impressive, and they are going to need the defense to step up again here. 

Kentucky comes into this game with a 17-7 record and they have gone 12-11-1 against the spread. Kentucky is averaging 86.3 points while their defense is giving up 76 points per game. The offense is ranked 3rd in the league while the defense is ranked 299th. Kentucky wants to push the pace, and they are going to try and get the speed up in this one. Otega Oweh has been the top player for this team averaging 15.9 points while shooting 49.1 percent from the field. 

Why Kentucky Will Beat Texas

Texas has lost 12 of its last 14 games against AP-ranked opponents.

The road team has won the first half in nine of Texas’ last 11 games.

Texas is Struggling

Texas is struggling heading into this game and they have lost three straight games. Two games ago against Vanderbilt they lost 86-78 and in the last game against Alabama they lost 103-80. Texas did shoot 42 percent from the field but they allowed Alabama to shoot 61.8 percent from the field. If they want any chance in this game, the defense is going to need to find a way to step up. Tre Johnson did have a strong game for Texas, putting up 24 points, four assists, and three rebounds.

Texas overall sits with a 15–10 record overall and they have gone 13-10-1 against the spread. At home this season they have gone 10-5 straight up. Texas is currently averaging 78.6 points while their defense is giving up 68.9 points per game. The offense is ranked 76th in the league while the defense is ranked 90th. Tre Johnson is averaging 19.3 points while shooting 43.9 percent from the field. 

Texas vs Kentucky Prediction

Remember what Texas just let Alabama do to them? It’s going to be much of the same here. Texas allowed Alabama to shoot 61.8 percent from the field and their defense is going to be a major issue again here. Kentucky is averaging 86.3 points per game, and they are going to have no issue with their shooting here. Texas is going to have no answer, and Kentucky will end up cruising here. Back Kentucky against the spread. 

Read the rest of "Texas vs Kentucky Prediction 2/15/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for tonight’s Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats matchup.

Draftkings NCAA College Basketball Showdown Picks

Captain-Otega Oweh, Guard, Kentucky Wildcats $9,400

Talented guard Otega Oweh has certainly been a standout performer for the Kentucky Wildcats this season. Having stated that, how has Oweh performed from a statistical perspective? Let’s review Oweh’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 23 games that guard Otega Oweh has played for the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Oweh is averaging 16.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.5 blocks a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 23 games that Otega Oweh has played for the Kentucky Wildcats this season, Oweh has compiled a field goal percentage of 49.6%, a three-point percentage of 33.3% and a free throw percentage of 77%.

More recently, in the Vanderbilt Commodores 74-69 win over the Kentucky Wildcats last month, Kentucky guard Otega Oweh played exceptionally well. Let me be more specific. Oweh amassed 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and one steal in the Commodores victory over the Kentucky Wildcats.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Vanderbilt Commodores win over the Kentucky Wildcats just mentioned, Otega Oweh accumulated a robust 42.1 Draftkings points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game Draftkings slate.

In my view, Otega Oweh is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this evening’s NCAA regular season game. With that said, I am backing Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

Chaz Lanier, Guard, Tennessee Volunteers $8,400

Guard Chaz Lanier has undoubtedly been a key contributor to the Tennessee Volunteers team achievements this season. Let’s review Lanier’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to better shed light on my previous statement.

In the 24 games that guard Chaz Lanier has played for the Tennessee Volunteers in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Lanier is averaging a robust 17.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals a game.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Zakai Zeigler, Guard (Tennessee Volunteers) $11,000: Amari Williams, Forward (Kentucky Wildcats) $10,000.

Read the rest of "Draftkings NCAA Basketball Picks: Tennessee vs. Kentucky 2/11/25" at Sports Chat Place

Tennessee Dominated the Last Game

Tennesee dominated the last game against Oklahoma on the road. Tennessee gave up only 52 points to the Sooners, and that was enough for the 18-point victory. Chaz Lanier put up 21 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Zakai Zeigler put up 17 points, nine assists, and four rebounds. Two games ago against Missouri, Tennessee scored 85 points, and they ended up winning four points. 

Tennessee comes into this game with a 20-4 record overall, and they have a 14-9-1 record overall. Tennessee is averaging 74.8 points while their defense is giving up 59.3 points per game. The offense is ranked 167th in the league, while the defense is ranked 3rd in the league. As a team, they are shooting 74.89 percent from behind the three-point line. The defense has been elite for this team in more games than not and in this game, the defense is going to need to be good. 

Which Kentucky Team Shows Up?

Two games ago against Ole Miss, Kentucky scored 84 points, but the defense gave up 98 points, and that led to the 14-point defeat. In the last game against South Carolina, Kentucky scored 80 points while the defense gave up 57 points and that was enough for the easy victory. Kentucky shot 48.4 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Kentucky comes into this game with a 16-7 record overall and they have gone 11-11-1 against the spread. Kentucky is averaging 86.7 points while their defense is giving up 77.6 points per game. The offense is ranked 3rd in the league while the defense is ranked 307th in the league. They are averaging 17.91 assists per game which is 9th in the league. There are six different players that put up at least 10 points. Kentucky will meet Texas after this game. 

Kentucky vs Tennessee Prediction

Tennessee’s defense is going to step up in a big way here. Tennessee’s defense is giving up 59.3 points per game, which is 3rd best in the league. Kentucky’s offense is averaging 86.7 points per game, but against an elite defense, they are going to really struggle to get the offense going here. It might be close in the first half, but Tennessee is going to pull away. Back Tennessee against the spread. Tennessee will win this game by at least a couple of buckets. 

Read the rest of "Kentucky vs Tennessee Prediction 2/11/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Preview

The Gamecocks were looking pretty good over their first 13 games of the season (despite a choppy start). Since New Year’s Day however, South Carolina hasn’t been able to find another victory. The Gamecocks opened on a 3-3 stretch with losses to North Florida, Indiana and Xavier. A win streak came next as South Carolina took out Virginia Tech, Boston College, East Carolina, USC Upstate, Clemson, Radford and Presbyterian. Since then it’s been a long string of losses. Those have come courtesy of Mississippi State, Alabama, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, Florida, Mississippi State, Georgia and Texas A&M. The result in the record column so far has been a 10-12 overall record through the first 22 games of the season.

In the Texas A&M matchup over the weekend, the Gamecocks hit a 44-36 deficit in the first half. South Carolina got better from there on a 36-32 stretch but ended up taking the loss in the end 76-72. Leading the team in scoring was Collin Murray-Boyles with 22 points, seven boards, six assists and two steals. Jamarii Thomas added 15 points with five assists and five rebounds with a pair of steals, while Morris Ugusuk led the contributions off the bench with his 12 points, one assist and one steal in 18 minutes of action on the floor.

Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview

Over on the Wildcats’ side, they came out of the gate on a pretty nice clip themselves. Kentucky has had their own issues since mid-January, however. The Wildcats’ first 14 outings were a 12-2 run with losses to only Clemson and Ohio State. Otherwise it was wins over Wright State, Bucknell, Duke, Lipscomb, Jackson State, Western Kentucky, Georgia State, Gonzaga, Colgate, Louisville, Brown and Florida. A 2-3 stretch came next with wins over Mississippi State and Texas A&M among losses to Georgia, Alabama and Vanderbilt. Following another win over Tennessee, Kentucky has since lost to Arkansas and Ole Miss in their last pair, giving the Wildcats a 15-7 record through 22 outings of the year.

Matched up against Ole Miss on Tuesday, the Wildcats exited the locker room with a 54-31 deficit. Kentucky got better in the second half on a 53-44 advantage but still took a sizable loss 98-84 in the end. Otega Oweh was the team’s leading scorer with 24 points and six rebounds. Jaxson Robinson added 18 points with two boards and two assists, and Amari Williams launched a triple-double on 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Andrew Carr finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists as the team’s leading bench contributor.

Why the Kentucky Wildcats will win

• South Carolina has lost each of its last 10 games against the Southeastern Conference.
• Kentucky has won 32 of its last 34 day games against the Southeastern Conference at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
• Kentucky has won the first half in 12 of its last 13 games at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the South Carolina Gamecocks will win

• South Carolina has won seven of its last eight games when playing with a rest advantage.
• Kentucky has lost four of its last five games.
• Kentucky has lost the first half in each of its last five games against the Southeastern Conference.

Total Points Facts

• Each of South Carolina’s last eight day games have produced a total of 144 or fewer points.
• Seven of Kentucky’s last eight day games at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center have produced a total of 153+ points.

Kentucky vs South Carolina Prediction

I’ll lean toward Kentucky here. Both teams could use a good performance, but Kentucky seems to be in a better position. The Wildcats ended up showing well versus Ole Miss (50 percent) and had a 37-29 rebounding advantage with just eight turnovers. The major issue in the loss however, was 54.7 percent surrendered shooting on the other side. Kentucky has given up 73 or more points in five straight games now—a 1-4 run.

As for South Carolina, their major blemish in the Texas A&M loss was the 12 turnovers for 19 Aggies points. The Gamecocks have been giving up points at a pretty good clip too: 7 or more in three of the last four (an 0-4 run). I like this one to be a high-scoring finish and a pretty competitive game, but I like Kentucky a little better at home. You could probably make a case either way, though. South Carolina should be able to notch a nice total.

Read the rest of "Kentucky vs South Carolina Prediction 2/8/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the Kentucky Wildcats vs. Mississippi Rebels game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for tonight’s Kentucky Wildcats vs. Mississippi Rebels matchup.

Draftkings NCAA College Basketball Showdown Picks

Captain-Otega Oweh, Guard, Kentucky Wildcats $10,800

Talented guard Otega Oweh has certainly been a standout performer for the Kentucky Wildcats this season. With that said, how has Oweh performed from a statistical perspective? Let’s review Oweh’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 21 games that guard Otega Oweh has played for the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Oweh is averaging 15.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.5 blocks a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 21 games that Otega Oweh has played for the Wildcats this season, Oweh has compiled a field goal percentage of 49.4%, a three-point percentage of 31.3% and a free throw percentage of 75%.

Earlier this month, in the Vanderbilt Commodores 74-69 win over the Kentucky Wildcats, Otega Oweh played exceptionally well. More specifically, Oweh amassed 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and one steal in the Commodores victory over the Kentucky Wildcats.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Vanderbilt Commodores win over the Kentucky Wildcats just mentioned, Otega Oweh accumulated a robust 42.1 Draftkings points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game Draftkings slate.

In my view, Otega Oweh is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this evening’s NCAA regular season game. Having stated that, I am backing Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

Koby Brea, Guard, Kentucky Wildcats $6,000

In addition to guard Otega Oweh, guard Koby Brea has been a key contributor to the Kentucky Wildcats achievements this season.

In the 21 games that Koby Brea has played for the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Koby Brea is averaging a rather impressive 18.7 Draftkings points a game.

In conclusion, I fully expect Koby Brea to continue his quality play in this evening’s NCAA basketball regular season game.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Sean Pedulla, Guard (Mississippi Rebels) $11,600: Amari Williams, Forward (Kentucky Wildcats) $10,600: Jaylen Murray, Guard (Mississippi Rebels) $6,400.

Read the rest of "Draftkings NCAA Basketball Picks: Kentucky vs. Mississippi 2/4/25" at Sports Chat Place

Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview

The Wildcats have been rolling along at a nice clip for most of the year. That said, Kentucky has run into some losses over their last handful of outings. During a 7-0 opening run, the Wildcats took out Wright State, Bucknell, Duke, Lipscomb, Jackson State, Western Kentucky, and Georgia State in succession. Kentucky lost to Clemson, then hit a 5-1 stretch that included wins over Gonzaga, Colgate, Louisville, Brown, and Florida among a loss to Ohio State. Since then Kentucky has been on a 3-4 run. The Wildcats have losses to Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas in that time, winning otherwise over Mississippi State, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. The result so far has been a 15-6 overall run through their first 21 games this year.

In the Arkansas game on Saturday, the Wildcats entered the second half in a 46-45 deficit. Kentucky didn’t end up getting any closer than that, posting a 43-34 run for an 89-79 loss in the end. Leading the team in the losing effort was Amari Williams, who notched a double-double on 22 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and one steal. Jaxson Robinson added 20 points with three rebounds and two assists, while Ansley Almonor put up 12 points with three boards and two assists. Otega Oweh chipped in 10 points with two rebounds as well.

Ole Miss Rebels Betting Preview

Over on the Rebels’ side, their year similarly started quite well through the middle part of January. Ole Miss has taken some lumps lately during a run of difficult matchups, though. In an 11-1 start, the Rebels lost to only Purdue, otherwise taking out Long Island U, Grambling, South Alabama, Colorado State, Oral Roberts, BYU, Louisville, Lindenwood, Southern Miss, Southern, and Queens U in that time. Following a loss to Memphis, the Rebels beat Georgia, Arkansas, LSU, and Alabama in their next four. Since then Ole Miss is just 1-4 with a lone win over Texas. Otherwise, it’s been losses to Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Missouri, and Auburn for a 16-6 record so far through the first 22 games of the 2024-25 season.

Matched up against Auburn in their Saturday game, the Rebels went into the locker room trailing 41-34. Ole Miss didn’t end up getting any closer than that on a 51-48 second half and took the loss at home 92-82. Leading the team in the defeat was Sean Pedulla with 29 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists. Matthew Murrell added 17 points with four rebounds, while Jaemyn Brakefield had 12 points with five rebounds, one assist and one steal. Malik Dia chipped in nine points with four rebounds and three assists as well.

Why the Ole Miss Rebels will win

• Ole Miss has won 10 of its last 11 night games.
• Kentucky has lost three of its last four games.
• Kentucky has lost the first half in each of its last four games against the Southeastern Conference.

Why the Kentucky Wildcats will win

• Ole Miss has lost 20 of its last 21 games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Kentucky has won nine of its last 10 games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Ole Miss has lost the first half in five of its last six games against the Southeastern Conference.

Total Points Facts

• Eighteen of Ole Miss’ last 19 night games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 155 or fewer points.
• Each of Kentucky’s last three night games at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss have produced a total of 156 or fewer points.

Ole Miss vs Kentucky Prediction

I’m going to take a stab at Ole Miss here. The Rebels are coming off a tough matchup versus a very good Auburn team, but they didn’t play too badly in the defeat—outside of the 41-30 rebounding deficit and 48.4 percent shooting allowed, that is. Ole Miss shot 46.4 percent from the field themselves and scored 17 points off 12 Tigers turnovers. The 24-of-35 (68.6 percent) from the line and 22-11 disparity in assists didn’t help either. Ole Miss has now lost four of their last five games, with all four of those losses coming to ranked teams. For the most part, however, the Rebels are still scoring pretty well in defeat.

As for Kentucky, they’ve lost three of their last four with the most two recent defeats coming against unranked (but talented) squads. The Wildcats are also scoring quite well themselves, so this one should be another fairly high total. In the end, I like Ole Miss to power out the eventual cover at home, but you could probably make a case either way.

Read the rest of "Ole Miss vs Kentucky Prediction 2/4/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Arkansas Has Struggled

This has been nothing but a disappointing season for Arkansas and for a team that had so much hope, it hasn’t worked out. Arkansas only has one win during conference play and they are coming off another loss in the last game. Arkansas was at home and faced off against Oklahoma but they ended up losing 65-62. Arkansas shot 37 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the three point line. Johnell Davis had a strong game, putting up 18 points and three rebounds, but the offense just wasn’t good enough overall. 

Arkansas is averaging 76.2 points while their defense is giving up 68.1 points per game. The offense is ranked 137th in the league while the defense is ranked 81st in the league. The offensive rating is 108.8 which is 158th in the league while the defensive rating is 97.3 which is 54th in the league. As a team they are shooting 72.63 which is 1555th in the league. Arkansas needs the defense to step up in a big way. Arkansas is going to want to get this win for Coach K and they should be extra motivated. 

Kentucky Looks to Build on Last Game

Kentucky had been struggling heading into the last game but they picked up the big win. Kentucky scored 78 points against Tennessee while the defense gave up 73 points and that was enough for the win. Kentucky shot 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from the field. If they continue to shoot 50 percent from deep they are going to be very tough to beat. Koby Brea put up 18 points, three rebounds, and three assists. There were five different players that put at least 12 points. 

Kentucky is averaging 87.6 points per game while their defense is giving up 75.8 points per game. The offense is naked 3rd in the league while the defense is ranked 292nd in the league. They are averaging 63.55 field goals attempted per game which is 26th in the league. They are shooting 48.46 percent from the field which is 30th in the league. Otega Oweh is averaging 15.9 points while shooting 50 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from behind the three point line. 

Why Kentucky Will Beat Arkansas

Kentucky has won each of its last 10 night games at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.

Arkansas has lost each of its last eight Saturday road games against Conference opponents.

Arkansas has lost the first half in four of its last five games against the Southeastern Conference.

Kentucky vs Arkansas Prediction

Arkansas and Coach K aren’t going to be happy with the results of this game. Straight up they just aren’t talented enough and they aren’t going to run up the score here. Kentucky is averaging 87.6 points per game and they are going to have no issue running up the score here. Arkansas isn’t going to be keeping up and it’s going be Kentucky that is going to cruise. Back Kentucky against the spread. 

Read the rest of "Kentucky vs Arkansas Prediction 2/1/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the Kentucky Wildcats vs. Tennessee Volunteers game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for tonight’s Kentucky Wildcats vs. Tennessee Volunteers matchup.

Draftkings NCAA College Basketball Showdown Picks

Captain-Otega Oweh, Guard, Kentucky Wildcats $10,800

Talented guard Otega Oweh has certainly been an essential part of the Kentucky Wildcats starting lineup this season. Having stated that, how has Oweh performed from a statistical perspective? Let’s review Oweh’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 19 games that guard Otega Oweh has played for the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Oweh is averaging 15.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.5 blocks a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 19 games that Otega Oweh has played for the Wildcats this season, Oweh has compiled a field goal percentage of 50.7%, a three-point percentage of 32.6% and a free throw percentage of 76.5%.

More recently, in the Vanderbilt Commodores 74-69 win over the Kentucky Wildcats three days ago, Otega Oweh played exceptionally well. More specifically, Oweh amassed 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and one steal in the Commodores victory over the Kentucky Wildcats.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Vanderbilt Commodores win over the Kentucky Wildcats just mentioned, Otega Oweh accumulated a robust 42.1 Draftkings points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game Draftkings slate.

In my opinion, Otega Oweh is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this evening’s NCAA regular season game. For that specific reason, I am backing Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

Koby Brea, Guard, Kentucky Wildcats $4,200

In addition to guard Otega Oweh, guard Koby Brea has been a key contributor to the Kentucky Wildcats achievements this season.

In the 19 games that Koby Brea has played for the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Koby Brea is averaging a respectable 18.5 Draftkings points a game.

In my view, Koby Brea’s low Draftkings price of only $4,200 presents the best fantasy value of any player on this one game DFS slate.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Chaz Lanier, Guard (Tennessee Volunteers) $7,800: Amari Williams, Forward (Kentucky Wildcats) $10,000: Felix Okpara, Forward (Tennessee Volunteers) $8,800.

Read the rest of "Draftkings NCAA Basketball Picks: Kentucky vs. Tennessee 1/28/25" at Sports Chat Place

Kentucky is Struggling

Kentucky is struggling heading into this game and they have lost two games in a row. Two games ago against Alabama, they lost 102-97, and in the last game against Vanderbilt, they ended up losing 74-69. At halftime, they were down 41-27, and even though they bounced back in the second half, they still ended up losing. Otega Oweh had a strong game putting up 21 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists. 

Kentucky sits with a 14-5 record overall and they have gone 9-9-1 against the spread. The over has hit in 10 of the 19 games so far this season. Kentucky is averaging 88.1 points while their defense is giving up 76 points per game. The offense is ranked 3rd in the league while the defense is ranked 299th. They are averaging 18.26 assists per game which is 9th in the league. Otega Oweh has been the top player for Kentucky this season, averaging 15.9 points while shooting 50.7 percent from the field. Kentucky will face Arkansas, Ole Miss, and South Carolina following this game. 

Tennessee Fell Just Short

Tennesse had a chance to make a statement win in the last game and they almost were able to get the job done, but they ended up falling just short losing 53-51 at the hands of the Auburn Tigers. Zakai Zeigler had a strong game putting up 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Chaz Lanier had a strong game, putting up 10 points and two rebounds also. Two games ago against Mississippi State, Tennessee ended up winning 68-56. 

Tennessee sits with a 17-3 record overall and they have gone  12-7-1 so far this season. The over is 7-13 so far this season. Tennessee is averaging 75.1 points while their defense is giving up 58.4 points per game. The offense is ranked 175th in the league while the defense is ranked 3rd in the league. Guard Chaz Lanier is having a strong season and he’s currently having 18 points while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Tennessee vs Kentucky Prediction

Tennessee’s defense is going to be the difference here. Tennessee is giving up only 58.4 points per game, and that defensive output is going to be enough here. Kentucky has had some struggles heading into this game, and they aren’t going to get better magically here. Tennessee’s defense is going to put on a show here, and they are going to end up cruising here. Back Tennessee against the spread. 

Read the rest of "Tennessee vs Kentucky Prediction 1/28/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview

The Kentucky Wildcats beat Texas A&M, lost to Alabama, and they play Tennessee, Arkansas, and Ole Miss next. The Kentucky Wildcats are averaging 89.2 points on 48.4 percent shooting and allowing 76.1 points on 41.8 percent shooting. Otega Oweh is averaging 15.7 points and 4.1 rebounds, while Lamont Butler is averaging 13.6 points and 2.9 rebounds. Jaxson Robinson is the third double-digit scorer and Koby Brea is dishing 0.8 assists. The Kentucky Wildcats are shooting 36.7 percent from beyond the arc and 74.2 percent from the free throw line. The Kentucky Wildcats are allowing 28.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 36.4 rebounds per game.

Vanderbilt Commodores Betting Preview

The Vanderbilt Commodores beat Tennessee, lost to Alabama, and they play Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas next. The Vanderbilt Commodores are averaging 82.4 points on 46.5 percent shooting and allowing 69.6 points on 43.7 percent shooting. Jason Edwards is averaging 17.3 points and 1.4 assists, while AJ Hoggard is averaging 11.1 points and 2.7 rebounds. Devin McGlockton is the third double-digit scorer and Tyler Nickel is grabbing 2.3 rebounds. The Vanderbilt Commodores are shooting 33.1 percent from beyond the arc and 75 percent from the free throw line. The Vanderbilt Commodores are allowing 35.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.2 rebounds per game.

Vanderbilt vs Kentucky Injury Report

Kentucky will continue to be without Kerr Kriisa due to a foot injury. Vanderbilt will be without Kijani Wright, Karris Bilal, and Alex Hemenway.

Vanderbilt vs Kentucky Prediction

The Vanderbilt Commodores are getting some respect with this line because they’re 10-1 SU at home, but it’s probably too much respect. Kentucky is the better and more talented team, and as a history of beating up on Vanderbilt over the years. The Commodores just don’t have the top end talent to survive against teams like Kentucky, and we’ve seen it recently against Alabama, Missouri and Mississippi State. Sure, Kentucky is still young and has lost two of its last three games, but I’m siding with the talent in this one. I’ll lay the bucket with the Wildcats.

Read the rest of "Vanderbilt vs Kentucky Prediction 1/25/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Alabama Recap

The Alabama Crimson Tide come into this game looking to bounce back from a 74-64 loss to Ole Miss last time out to fall to 14-3 on the year. After this game, Alabama will head home for a matchup with Vanderbilt.

Crimson Tide Looking To Rebound

Mark Sears leads Alabama in scoring and assists with 18.6 PPG and 4.5 APG along with 3.1 RPG while Grant Nelson has 12 PPG with 8.6 RPG to lead the Crimson Tide in rebounding so far this season. Labaron Philon has 11.4 PPG with 3.7 RPG and 3.8 APG and Aden Holloway has chipped in 11.1 PPG to cap off the scoring in double figures for Alabama so far this season. As a team, Alabama is averaging 89.5 PPG on 47.1% shooting from the field, 32% from three and 69.7% from the foul line this season.

Why the Alabama Crimson Tide will win

• Alabama has won each of its last seven day games.

Kentucky Recap

The Kentucky Wildcats enter this game looking to build on an 81-69 win over Texas A&M last time out to improve to 14-3 on the year. After this game, Kentucky will continue on the road to take on Vanderbilt.

Wildcats Win Back-To-Back Games

Otega Oweh leads the Wildcats in scoring with 15.4 PPG along with 4 RPG while Koby Brea has 11.3 PPG with 3.1 RPG. Lamont Butler’s added 13.4 PPG with a team-high 4.7 APG to lead Kentucky in assists and Jaxson Robinson has added 13.1 PPG with 3.9 RPG as well this season. Andrew Carr has 11.4 PPG with 5.8 RPG to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Kentucky up to this point in the season, while Amari Williams has added 9.8 PPG with a team-leading 8.6 RPG to lead the Wildcats in rebounding so far this season. As a team, Kentucky is averaging 88.7 PPG on 48.4% shooting from the field, 36.5% from three and 73.9% from the foul line this season.

Why the Kentucky Wildcats will win

• Kentucky has won each of its last 15 games at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.

Total Points Facts

• Fourteen of Kentucky’s last 15 day games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 166 or fewer points.
• Twenty-seven of Alabama’s last 31 day games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 178 or fewer points.

Kentucky vs Alabama Prediction

I’m on Alabama in this one. I think this game is genuinely a toss-up and despite not showing it in some of their recent outings, this Alabama offense can cook when they’re called upon. Kentucky’s shown a lot more on that end of the floor, so I don’t blame anyone for wanting to take Kentucky at Rupp Arena which is one of the toughest road environments in all of college basketball, but Kentucky’s defense has also been susceptible and can be had by high-octane offenses like Alabama’s. The Tide have gone 3-0 after a loss this season and Kentucky’s heads might be a bit inflated after wins over Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Florida in 2025 so far. Give me the free bucket with Alabama here.

Read the rest of "Kentucky vs Alabama Prediction 1/18/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Kentucky Bounced Back

Kentucky bounced back in a big way in the last game. Two games ago, Kentucky faced off against Georgia and they scored 69 points, but the defense gave up 82 points and that led to the defeat. In the last game against Mississippi State, Kentucky scored 95 points on the way to the victory. At halftime, they were up 49-44 and they held on in the second half they held on for the win. Jaxson Robinson had a huge game putting up 27 points, three rebounds, and two assists. There were five different players that put up at least 10 points. 

Kentucky on the season is averaging 89.2 points while their defense is giving up 74.9 points per game. The offense is ranked 3rd in the league, while the defense is ranked 275th. They are averaging 18.56 assists per game which is seventh in the league. Otega Oweh had a strong game and is averaging 15.6 points while shooting 50 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from behind the three-point line. There are five different players that are averaging at least 11 points per game. 

Why Kentucky Will Beat Texas A&M

• Kentucky has won each of its last nine night games at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
• Texas A&M has lost seven of its last nine night games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
• Texas A&M has lost the first half in seven of its last nine night games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.

Texas A&M Looks to Bounce Back

Texas A&M faced off against Alabama and the offense scored 88 points while the defense gave up 98 points and that was the difference. At halftime, they were down 52-44 and although they fought back a bit in the second half, it was still not enough to come away with the victory. Zurich Phelps did have a strong game putting up 24 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Pharrell Phane also put up 23 points, nine rebounds, and one assist. Two games ago against Oklahoma, Texas A&M was able to secure an 80-78 victory. 

Texas A&M is averaging 77.4 points while their defense is giving up 65.4 points per game. The offense is ranked 125th in the league while the defense is ranked 41st in the league. They are averaging 18.3 free throws per game which is 18th in the league. Wade Taylor IV is averaging 15.7 points while shooting 37.7 percent from the field and 333.7 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Why Texas A&M Will Beat Kentucky

• Texas A&M has won seven of its last eight night games.

Kentucky vs Texas A&M Prediction

Kentucky is averaging 89.2 points and they are going to have no issue running up the score here. This Texas A&M offense is also good and they are averaging 77.4 points per game. Texas A&M’s defense hasn’t been awful but they are going to really struggle to defend here. Look for neither team to play any sort of defense and this game is going to be a shootout. Back the over to cash. 

Read the rest of "Kentucky vs Texas A&M Prediction 1/14/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview

Kentucky opened the season on a tear, winning each of their first seven outings. Those victories came versus Wright State, Bucknell, Duke, Lipscomb, Jackson State, Western Kentucky, and Georgia State in succession. The Wildcats took their first loss of the year on December 3 versus Clemson 70-66 but then won the next three matchups versus Gonzaga, Colgate, and Louisville. Since then it’s been a 1-2 stretch for Kentucky. Following a loss to Ohio State, the Wildcats rebounded with consecutive wins over Brown and Florida.

Kentucky last played on Saturday versus the Gators. The Wildcats jumped out to a commanding 52-42 lead by halftime, then cruised on a 58-54 second half, hanging on for the eventual 106-100 victory against a very tough opponent. All five starters finished the game in double-figures, but Koby Brea led everyone on the team with 23 points and one rebound in 22 minutes off the bench. Leading the starters was Lamont Butler with his 19 points, eight assists, and three steals. Otega Oweh wasn’t too far behind with 16 points, four rebounds, and two steals, while Amari Williams chipped in with 15 points, eight boards and five assists.

Georgia Bulldogs Betting Preview

Over on the Georgia side, they opened the season on a string of wins as well. The Bulldogs got past Tennessee Tech, Texas Southern, North Florida, Georgia Tech, and Alabama A&M for a 5-0 start. Georgia’s first loss came on November 23 versus Marquette, but another win streak ensued afterward versus St. John’s, Jacksonville, Notre Dame, Grand Canyon, Buffalo, Charleston Southern and South Carolina State. The Bulldogs saw their streak snapped in their last outing versus Ole Miss however, resulting in a 12-2 record so far this season.

In the Ole Miss game on Saturday, the Bulldogs came out of the break looking at a 28-26 advantage on the scoreboard. Georgia faltered mightily in the second half however, getting drilled 37-23 on the way to a fairly listless loss 63-51. Leading the team in scoring—and the only player on the team in double-figures—was Asa Newell with 13 points, 13 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks for a double-double. Tyrin Lawrence added eight points and three steals, while De’Shayne Montgomery led the bench scoring with six points and one rebound.

Why the Georgia Bulldogs will win

• Georgia has won each of its last 11 games at Stegeman Coliseum.
• Georgia has won the first half in each of its last eight night games at Stegeman Coliseum.

Why the Kentucky Wildcats will win

• Georgia has lost each of its last eight games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
• Kentucky has won 12 of its last 13 night games against Georgia.
• Georgia has lost the first half in each of its last six games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.

Georgia vs Kentucky Prediction

I’ll lean toward Kentucky, but this should be a highly interesting matchup that you could argue either way. The Wildcats took out a very good Florida squad in their last outing thanks to a stellar 57.8 percent shooting from the field and 25 team assists alongside just six turnovers. Kentucky did slow down in the second half compared to the Gators and ended up allowing Florida to shoot 55 percent from the floor. Still, it was a great win. That makes 78 or more points in five of the last six games (all five were wins), with 88 or more points in four of those.

As for Georgia, they couldn’t quite figure out a great Ole Miss squad in their last game. The Bulldogs ended up shooting a miserable 29.3 percent from the field with just 2-of-18 (11.1 percent) from 3-point range and 15 turnovers for 15 Rebels points. It was the Bulldogs’ lowest-scoring game of the year by quite a margin, so it’s probably safe to say they’ll eclipse that total here. Georgia had posted 69 or more points in six straight games prior to that, and the Bulldogs will need another good scoring outing in order to keep up with Kentucky. In the end, however, I don’t think Georgia will quite get there. Regardless of what happens, it’ll be a fun one to watch, though.

Read the rest of "Georgia vs Kentucky Prediction 1-7-25 College Basketball Picks" at Sports Chat Place

The visiting team has won each of the last three games played between the two teams. Last January it took overtime, but Florida was able to secure the 84-81 victory. 

Perfect Start for Florida

It has been a perfect start for Florida and even though they haven’t lost a game and are ranked sixth in the country, they still aren’t getting talked about a whole lot. Florida in the last game faced off against Stetson, and they scored 85 points and the defense gave up only 45 points on the way to the victory. Alijah Martin had a huge game, putting up 18 points, three rebounds, and two assists. There were three different players that put up at least 12 points. Florida shot 50.7 percent from the field and 36 percent from behind the three-point line. They only had nine free throw attempts and getting to the line more is going to be a key. Two games ago against North Florida, it was much of the same, and the offense scored 99 points while the defense gave up only 45 points. 

Florida is averaging 87.4 points while their defense is giving up 63.5 points per game. The offense is ranked 9th in the league while the defense is ranked 24th. They are shooting 47.3 percent from the field which is 87th best in the league. As a team, they are averaging 16 assists per game which is 82nd in the league. Florida is fully healthy heading into this game. Walter Clayton Jr is averaging 17.2 points while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 37 percent from behind the three-point line. Florida will meet Tennessee after this game.

Why Florida Will Beat Kentucky

• Florida has won 16 of its last 18 games.

Big Test For Kentucky

It’s another big test for Kentucky and a win here would make another big statement. In the last game, Kentucky faced off against Brown, and they scored 88 points while the defense gave up only 54 points and that was enough for the 34-point victory. Kentucky shot 50 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from behind the three-point line. Kentucky used a balanced attack and they had four different players that were put at least 13 points. Even though they looked good in the last game, Kentucky didn’t look good two games ago against Ohio State. Kentucky scored 65 points, while the defense gave up 85 points and that led to the defeat. 

Kentucky on the season is averaging 89 points while their defense is giving up 71.3 points per game. The offense is ranked 3rd in the league while the defense is ranked 186th. Otega Oweh is averaging 15.9 points while shooting 50.7 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from behind the three-point line. Kerr Kriisa is dealing with a foot injury, and he’s out indefinitely. Otega Oweh has been the top player overall this year, averaging 15.9 points while shooting 50.7 percent from the field. Kentucky will face Georgia following this one.

Kentucky vs Florida Prediction

Give me Florida here. Two games ago, Kentucky looked awful against Ohio State, and the biggest reason was the defense giving up 85 points. This Gators offense is averaging 87.4 points per game and they are going to have no issue running up the score here. Now they might not go over their season average but they are going to have no issue running up the score, and that is going to be the difference here as Florida is going to get the job done. Back Florida against the spread here. 

Read the rest of "Kentucky vs Florida Prediction 1-4-25 College Basketball Picks" at Sports Chat Place

Brown Bears Betting Preview

Brown stumbled to a 1-3 start over their first four games. The lone win in that time was over New Hampshire, surrounded by losses to Siena, Maine, and Holy Cross. The Bears would then beat Sacred Heart, Canisius, Stony Brook, Vermont, Bryant, and Rhode Island over the next six. Game 11 was another loss though, this time to Kansas.

On December 22 versus Kansas, Brown came out of halftime with a 42-31 deficit. The Bears were only able to muster another 22 points from there in an 87-53 blowout loss. Kino Lilly was the top scorer with 18 points and four rebounds. Aaron Cooley was the next-closest starter points-wise, securing six with nine rebounds and three assists. Bench contributors N’famara Dabo and Alexander Lesburt each posted six points as well.

This year Lilly is far and away the leading scorer for Brown. He accounts for 20 points per game and 3.6 assists per game so far. Landon Lewis is quite a ways behind on 13.9 points per game, but he’s second on the team with 7.0 rebounds per game. Cooley leads in rebounding (7.6 per game) and he’s third in scoring with 12.5 points per game so far.

Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview

Over on the Kentucky side, they beat Wright State, Bucknell, Duke, Lipscomb, Jackson State, Western Kentucky, and Georgia State before a loss to Clemson on December 3 for their first blemish of the season. The Wildcats would beat Gonzaga, Colgate, and Louisville over the next trio before meeting up with Ohio State.

Back on December 21 in the Ohio State game, the Wildcats fell back into the loss column. Kentucky took a 39-30 deficit into the locker room and eventually lost 85-65 after a 46-35 second. Otega Oweh was tops in the losing effort with 21 points. Andrew Carr added 13 points with four rebounds and two assists. Also in double-figures was Jaxson Robinson with 10 points and four rebounds.

Oweh leads the scoring for Kentucky this season. He’s got 16.2 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game thus far. Though he’s only played 10 outings, Lamont Butler is second with 14.0 points per game and a team-high 4.2 assists per game. Robinson is also in double-figures, not too far behind on 12.3 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Why the Kentucky Wildcats will win

• Kentucky has won each of its last 12 games at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
• Kentucky has won the first half in each of its last 12 games at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.

Why the Brown Bears will win

• Brown has won six of its last seven games.

Kentucky vs Brown Prediction

I’ll probably just stay with Kentucky here. The Wildcats need a good bounce-back effort after a listless loss to Ohio State, and this is a solid opportunity to get it. Kentucky hit just 29.8 percent from the field and 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from 3-point range in that loss to the Buckeyes while giving up 56.6 percent shooting on the other side. The Wildcats have scored 77 or more points in all 10 of their wins, but they’ve also scored fewer than 67 points in both of their losses.

As for Brown, they shot a dismal 26.7 percent from the field in their last game versus Kansas, but no one expected the Bears to finish anywhere close in that one anyway. With that in mind, the 24.2 percent (8-of-33) from 3-point range and 50-40 rebounding deficit make sense as well. Brown had posted 76 or more points in five of six previous games (all wins), though. All of that said, the Bears will likely have a tough time keeping any sort of pace on Kentucky at Rupp Arena. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Brown somewhere in range at halftime but they’ll probably get buried by the Wildcats after the break once they tire out.

Read the rest of "Kentucky vs Brown Prediction 12-31-24 College Basketball Picks" at Sports Chat Place

Kentucky Has Won Two Straight Games

Kentucky has won two straight games, and they have a ton of confidence right now. In the last game against Louisville, Kentucky scored 93 points and they ended up winning by eight points. Lamont Butler had a strong game putting up 33 points, six assists, and three rebounds. There were five different players that put up at least 10 points. Three games ago against Gonzaga, they were able to secure the 90-89. Kentucky on the season is averaging 91.3 points while their defense is giving up 71.6 points per game. The offense is ranked 1st in the league while the defense is ranked 197th. Otega Oweh is averaging 15.7 points while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. 

Why Kentucky Will Beat Ohio State

• Kentucky has won each of its last eight home games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Ohio State has lost five of its last six night games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Ohio State has lost the first half in six of its last seven night games against Top 5 AP-ranked opponents.

Ohio State Has Been Disappointing 

Ohio State has been disappointing this season and there have been a couple of blowouts. Ohio State in the last game against Valparaiso and they scored 95 points and they ended up winning by 22 points. Ohio State shot 54.1 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from the field. Devin Royal put up 31 points and 15 rebounds. Ohio State on the season is averaging 80.7 points while their defense is giving up 69.1 points per game. The offense is ranked 76th in the league while the defense is ranked 129th. Devin Royal is having a strong season averaging 15.6 points while shooting 61.1 percent from the field. 

Kentucky vs Ohio State Prediction

When Ohio State has played good teams this season, they have struggled. Two games ago against Auburn, Ohio State was defeated 91-53 and it’s going to be similar here. Kentucky is averaging 91.3 points and htye are going to have no issue running up the score here. Ohio State’s offense won’t be keeping up, and it will be Kentucky that gets the job done. Back Kentucky against the spread here. 

Read the rest of "Kentucky vs Ohio State Prediction 12-21-24 College Basketball Picks" at Sports Chat Place

Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview

The Kentucky Wildcats are 9-1 this year after they defeated Colgate by a score of 78-67 in their last game. Kentucky led 38-36 at halftime and they scored 40 points in the second half to escape with the win. The Wildcats shot 42.9% from the field, 32.3% on three pointers, and 61.5% on free throws in the game. Koby Brea led Kentucky with 17 points and five rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Wildcats defeated Gonzaga by a score of 90-89, but did lose to Clemson before that. Kentucky has scored 91.1 points per game and they have allowed 70.3 points against per game, while also averaging 44.8 rebounds and 19.1 assists per game this season. Otega Oweh is averaging 15.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, while Kentucky is shooting 48.7% from the field, 73.4% on free throws, and 35.5% on three pointers this year. 

Louisville Cardinals Betting Preview 

The Louisville Cardinals are 6-4 this season after they defeated UTEP by a score of 77-74 in their last game. Louisville trailed 36-32 at halftime, but they did score 45 points in the second half in the victory. The Cardinals shot 39.7% from the field, 17.6% on three pointers, and 73.5% on free throws in the game. Terrence Edwards Jr. led Louisville with 22 points and three rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Cardinals lost three games in a row against Duke, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma. Louisville has scored 76.1 points per game and they have allowed 68.7 points against per game, while also averaging 38.8 rebounds and 13.5 assists per game this season. Chucky Hepburn is averaging 14.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, while Louisville is shooting 42.5% from the field, 71.1% on free throws, and 27% on three pointers this year. 

Why Kentucky will beat Louisville

• Kentucky has won each of its last 13 night games against non-Conference opponents at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
• Louisville has lost each of its last 10 night games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Kentucky has won the first half in each of its last 18 night games at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Louisville’s last 11 Saturday games against non-Conference opponents have produced a total of 154 or fewer points.
• Fifteen of Kentucky’s last 18 night games at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center have produced a total of 165+ points.

Kentucky vs Louisville Prediction 

Louisville comes into this matchup after losing three of their last four games and they did not play well in their win against UTEP last time out. The Cardinals are only shooting 42.5% from the field and they have scored 65 points or fewer in three of their last four. Kentucky has just one loss on the season, which came on the road against Clemson, but they do have wins over Gonzaga and Duke. The Wildcats are the highest scoring team in the nation and they are also great at rebounding. I know Louisville has played a tough schedule, but I just don’t see them having the offense to hang with a team like Kentucky. Take the Wildcats at home. 

Read the rest of "Kentucky vs Louisville Prediction 12-14-24 College Basketball Picks" at Sports Chat Place

Colgate Raiders Betting Preview

The Raiders hit a 1-4 run in their first five games, falling to Drexel, Syracuse, NC State, and Harvard. After a win over UNC Wilmington, Colgate lost to App State, Sam Houston, Cornell, and Northeastern.

In the Sunday matchup with the Huskies, the Raiders blew a four-point halftime lead with a 50-43 deficit from there in an eventual 78-75 loss. Brady Cummins finished with 15 points, while Jalen Cox had 14 points with six rebounds, four steals, and five assists in the defeat.

Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview

Over on the Kentucky side, they beat Wright State, Bucknell, Duke, Lipscomb, Jackson State, Western Kentucky, and Georgia State in their first seven. A loss to Clemson came next, then a tight win over Gonzaga.

Matched up against Gonzaga over the weekend, the Wildcats came back from a 50-34 halftime deficit to force overtime and eventually won 90-89 in a thriller. Andrew Carr was tops on the team with his 19 points and seven rebounds. Kentucky will take on Louisville after this one. 

Why the Kentucky Wildcats will win

• Kentucky has won each of its last 12 night games against non-conference opponents at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
• Colgate has lost 12 of its last 13 games against non-conference opponents.
• Kentucky has won the first half in each of its last 17 night games at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Colgate Raiders will win

• Colgate has won each of its last 10 Wednesday road games.

Kentucky vs Colgate Prediction

I’ll stay with Kentucky, but the line’s a little too thick to play around with. The Wildcats are coming off a west-coast win over Gonzaga. It was a pretty solid effort overall despite a 42-37 rebounding deficit. Kentucky made all 14 of their free throw attempts though, which helped push them over the top in OT. The Wildcats have scored 77 or more points in all eight of their wins this year, and 87 or more in seven of those. It’s going to be tough for the Raiders to keep any kind of pace here.

Speaking of Colgate, they were drilled on the boards by Northeastern 37-21 and had 12 turnovers in their latest loss. The Raiders have given up 72 or more points in four straight games now, so I’m not thrilled about their cover chances on Wednesday.

Read the rest of "Kentucky vs Colgate Prediction 12-11-24 College Basketball Picks" at Sports Chat Place