The No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats will look to keep the good times rolling in Athens this weekend with a date against the No. 14. Auburn Tigers. It’s a great opportunity for Kentucky to notch a huge resume-building win, though, it’s going to be easier said than done against an Auburn side that’s still trying to recover from a recent loss to the Ole Miss Rebels.
The Wildcats are +1,600 to win the national title, while the Tigers are +5,000 to take down all the competition in the Big Dance.
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Betting Preview for the Kentucky Wildcats vs. Auburn Tigers College Basketball Game on January 19, 2019
Where: Auburn Arena, Auburn
When: Saturday, January 19, 2019, 4:00 PM ET
Line: Kentucky Wildcats (odds) vs. Auburn Tigers (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Kentucky Wildcats (13-3 Overall / 3-1 Conference)
The Wildcats took the Georgia Bulldog to the woodshed on Wednesday with a 69-49 win in Athens. Kentucky had an unlikely top performer against Georgia, as freshman Ashton Hagans, who is only averaging just 7.6 points per game, paced the Wildcats with 23 points to go with five rebounds and four assists. Hagans, however, has been stepping it up of late, scoring in double figures in each of his last five outings. Kentucky has no problem in terms of offense. It is 31st nationally with 80.1 points per game on a solid 48.8 percent shooting from the field. The Wildcats have five players averaging at least 8.0 points per game, with Keldon Johnson leading them all with his 14.6 points per game average.
The Wildcats, who also boast an imposing rim protection as evidenced by their 5.4 blocks per contest, are 2-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last three games away from Lexington.
Betting on the Auburn Tigers (12-3 Overall / 1-1 Conference)
Auburn took out its frustrations from an 82-67 road loss to the Ole Miss Rebels on Georgia last Saturday, walloping the Bulldogs at home to the tune of a 93-78 victory. The loss to the Rebels served as a reminder for the Tigers that no team should be taken for granted in the SEC, so it’s a good thing they responded in a merciless fashion in the Georgia game. Against the Bulldogs, the backcourt tandem of Bryce Brown and Jared Harper combined for 37 points. Auburn, which is scoring 83.1 points per outing, shot 50 percent from the field and knocked down 12 3-pointers. Auburn lethal from long range, ranking fifth in the nation with 11.0 treys per contest. If Brown and Harper can duplicate that kind of performance, they will be able to negate whatever production Kentucky will get from its productive guards.
The Tigers are 3-0 ATS in their last three meetings with Kentucky.
Writer’s Prediction
Kentucky wins, 78-74.
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