This isn’t football, so the No. 13 Kentucky Wildcats (+1,600 to win the national title) will come into Tuscaloosa for the start of their conference play schedule with their heads up and chests out against the Alabama Crimson Tide (+25,000 to win the national title). The Tide, however, are on a roll, and could be considered as a legitimate candidate to score an upset victory.
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Betting Preview for the Kentucky Wildcats vs. Alabama Crimson Tide College Basketball Game on January 5, 2019
Where: Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa
When: Saturday, January 5, 2019, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Kentucky Wildcats (odds) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Kentucky Wildcats (10-2 Overall / 0-0 Conference)
The Wildcats have stumbled twice this season, but their two losses may have just strengthened them for the conference play. Since losing to the Seton Hall Pirates on Dec. 8, Kentucky has turned it up, scoring their two biggest wins of the season following that setback. The Wildcats took down No.9 North Carolina in a neutral-court 80-72 win on Dec. 22 and beat the Louisville Cardinals in convincing fashion, 71-58, on Dec. 29. With the Wildcats gaining momentum and even more confidence to mix with their immense potential and talent, their upcoming outing in Tuscaloosa should result in a win. Kentucky is averaging 83.1 points per game, good for 18th in the nation while also shooting a solid 49.4 percent from the floor. There’s balance in the Wildcats’ offense in the backcourt and down low, with freshman guards Keldon Johnson and Tyler Herro putting up 16.4 and 13.3 points, respectively, while graduate transfer big man Reid Travis racking up 14.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Kentucky is 3-0 ATS in its last three road games against Alabama.
Betting on the Alabama Crimson Tide (9-3 Overall / 0-0 Conference)
One thing about Alabama is that it’ll enter Saturday’s meeting with the Wildcats on the heels of a four-game winning streak. In their last game, the Crimson Tide beat the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks on the road, 79-69, on Dec. 30. Although the Lumberjacks are barely on anyone’s radar this season, winning a game in front of a hostile crowd shows how capable Alabama is in handling pressure, which it’ll have plenty of on the court against Kentucky. The Crimson Tide is feeding off the play of their star freshman Kira Lewis Jr. He’s leading the team with 15.0 points per game to go with 3.1 assists per contest. Lewis had 17 points in the Lumberjacks win and also had eight assists, though, he only went 4-for-12 from the floor. Lewis will get help from senior big man Donta Hall, who is second on the team with 11.1 points per game. Hall (2.3 blocks per game) will also play a crucial role in preventing close-basket scores by Kentucky. Hall is the anchor of Alabama’s defense that ranks 23rd in the nation with 5.2 blocks per contest.
The over is 4-1 in Alabama’s last five home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Kentucky wins, 78-63.
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