Kentucky vs. UCLA Pick
Can No. 7 Kentucky fend off UCLA when the two prestigious programs meet up today at 4PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Kentucky is favored in this game, as the Wildcats are getting odds of -7 points against UCLA. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 157 points. Today’s game takes place from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana and will air live on CBS.
Kentucky is on a 7-game winning streak coming into today’s game, including a 93-86 win over Virginia Tech last weekend. The Wildcats are 9-1 on the season and they have covered in four of their last five to get to 5-5 against the spread on the season. Kentucky is scoring 81.3 points per game on offense this season while allowing 69.2 per game on defense. Kevin Knox is putting up 15.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game to lead the Wildcats while Hamidou Diallo is adding 15.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
UCLA is coming off an 85-82 win over South Dakota earlier this week to move to 8-3 on the season. The Bruins have struggled at the betting window, as they are just 3-8 against the spread this year and have failed to cover in three straight. UCLA is averaging 82.8 points per game on offense while allowing 76.2 per game on defense. Aaron Holiday is leading the Bruins this year with 17.4 points and 5.4 assists per game while Thomas Welsh is adding 13.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per contest.
Kentucky has won five of the last nine meetings with UCLA, but the Bruins are 5-2 against the spread in the last seven encounters. UCLA still seems to be piecing its team together following the suspensions of three players. Kentucky started a little rusty, but the young team seems to be finding its groove a little bit. The Wildcats have covered in four of their last five and have won their last seven by eight points or more. The public betting is heavily with Kentucky today and I think the Wildcats will be able to cover this spread.
CBB DAILY PREDICTION: KENTUCKY -7