Kentucky Wildcats vs. Vanderbilt Commodores Preview
Where: Memorial Gym – Nashville, TN
When: Tuesday, January 10, 2017, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Kentucky Wildcats (-11.5) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (+11.5) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast:
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Betting on the Kentucky Wildcats (13-2, 3-0 SEC)
Point Spread: -11.5
The Wildcats will enter the game riding a dominant three-game winning streak, boasting an average winning margin of 30 points in those victories. In the most recent win, they eased past the Razorbacks, 96-71, with De’Aaron Fox recording 27 points, six rebounds, and six assists
As they look to stay perfect against SEC rivals, expect Fox (16.3 PPG), Malik Monk (21.9 PPG), and Isaiah Briscoe (15.2) to keep attacking at will on offense. Led by their production, the Wildcats have jumped ahead of offensive powerhouse UCLA Bruins in scoring, as they are now second overall with an 94.2 PPG average. Kenpom.com also lists their squad as the third-best offense in the country.
Over on defense, their play is also as dangerous. They are one of only two teams (West Virginia) to be ranked in the top 10 of both offensive and defensive efficiency.
The interior D is being effectively anchored by Edrice Adebayo (13.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.8 BPG), who’s the main reason for Kentucky ranking 11th overall in blocks (6.4 per game). The great team defense, meanwhile, is translating into their opponents only shooting 40.1 percent and committing 10.9 turnovers per game.
The Wildcats are 3-1 SU and ATS on the road this season.
Betting on the Vanderbilt Commodores (8-7, 2-1 SEC)
Point Spread: +11.5
Their record simply screams inconsistency, which is very true. Just this past weekend, they bowed to Alabama, 59-56, and shot an abysmal 35.7-percent from the field. It came after a two-game stretch where they were dominant and made over 50 percent of their shots.
That has been the story of their season so far; every blowout win has been followed up with a frustrating close loss.
With a season-long trend like that, Kenpom.com currently places the Commodores with unappealing rankings – 58th in offense and 62nd in defense. As harsh as it may sound, it is simply easy to suggest that they are just another team on the Wildcats’ schedule.
They will be bringing mediocre averages of 73.2 PPG on a 43.2-percent shooting, both of which are ranked way below in the category. When you start comparing those numbers with Kentucky’s elite defense, a win for Vandy really seems too far-fetched.
Still, if you believe this underdog, here’s a stat you’d like: they are 6-1 at Memorial Gym this season, with an average winning margin of 18.1 PPG.
Should they score a massive upset, which will probably one of the most shocking upsets in recent memory, expect Matthew Fisher-Davis to lead them there. The junior is putting up 16.9 points and swishing 3.1 threes per contest. He and Luke Kornet (12.7 PPG) are the only guys on their roster to average in double figures, and they are bound to have a long night opposite Kentucky’s unforgiving D.
Writer’s Prediction
Kentucky (-11.5) records another blowout win, 98-72.
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