Kentucky vs. LSU Pick
Can No. 17 Kentucky go on the road and pick up another SEC win when the Wildcats take on LSU tonight at 8:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Kentucky is favored on the road. The Wildcats are getting odds of -4.5 points against LSU. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 155 points. Tonight’s game takes place from Peter Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and air live on the SEC Network.
Kentucky is coming off a big 66-61 win at home over Georgia this past weekend to open SEC play. The Wildcats are 11-2 overall, 1-0 in the SEC and 6-7 against the spread. UK has failed to cover in two of its last three games. Kentucky is putting up 80.3 points per game this year while allowing just 69 per contest. Hamidou Diallo is averaging 14.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game to lead Kentucky while Kevin Knox is adding 14.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest.
LSU has won three straight games coming into its SEC opener, including a 71-61 win at Memphis last week. LSU is now 9-3 overall and 6-3 against the spread. The Tigers have covered in four of their last five lined games. LSU is averaging 84.7 points per game on offense while giving up 73.4 per contest. Tremont Waters is leading LSU with 17.1 points and 6.4 assists per game while Skylar Mays is adding 12.8 points per contest.
Kentucky has won three of their last four meetings with LSU, but the Tigers have covered in three of their last four outings. While this theory didn’t work out well yesterday, I still have my questions about a team playing in their first true road game this late in the year. Kentucky has a young team that may not handle the environment well. Also, LSU is just a team that has been a tough out for Kentucky over the years. The public betting is strongly with Kentucky, but I am taking my chances on LSU.
CBB DAILY PREDICTION: LSU +4.5