The 15th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats and the No. 18 Texas Tech Red Raiders are all set to duke it out this Saturday in Lubbock in what will be the only game in the Big 12/SEC Challenge between two Top 25 teams. Going into the game, NCAAB Futures price Kentucky at +1700 to win the 2020 Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament, while Texas Tech has longer odds at +2900. Read on for more about this intriguing contest.
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Betting Preview for the Kentucky Wildcats vs Texas Tech Red Raiders NCAA College Basketball Game on January 25 2020
Where: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock
When: Saturday, January 25, 2020, 6:00 PM ET
Line: Kentucky Wildcats (Odds) vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (Odds) – view all 2020 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Kentucky Wildcats (14-4 Overall / 5-1 Conference)
There’s more to Kentucky guard Ashton Hagans than his ability to score, but he showed that anyway in an 89-79 win in Lexington over the Georgia Bulldogs on Tuesday. The sophomore guard led the Wildcats with 23 points against the Bulldogs and added nine assists and four steals in 35 minutes of all-around brilliance. Forward Nick Richards gave ample production, too, with 20 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Rim protection was on full display in that game for Kentucky, which swatted away a total of eight Georgia shots. The Wildcats are second in the SEC in block percentage and 23rd in the nation with 5.2 blocks per game. Given that Texas Tech isn’t a good 3-point shooting team, Kentucky doesn’t have to be too honest in defending the Red Raiders shooters while also clogging driving lanes and the low block on defense.
The over is 3-0 in the Wildcats’ last three games overall.
Betting on the Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-6 Overall / 3-3 Conference)
The Red Raiders took their third loss in conference play after absorbing a 65-54 defeat in Fort Worth against the TCU Horned Frogs on Tuesday. Texas Tech was partially victimized by its inability to find their stroke on offense and a poor job in taking care of the leather. Texas Tech shot just 43.1 percent from the field and committed 15 turnovers. They also went just 4 for 17 from behind the arc. Jahmi’us Ramsey scored 15 points to lead the Red Raiders but shot just 6 for 14 and had four turnovers. Usually, it’s Texas Tech that’s forcing their opponents to commit more errors, as they are 28th in the league with opponents turning the ball over 16.4 times per contest. This was still the case in the TCU game with the Horned Frogs picking up 17 turnovers, but Texas Tech simply was not efficient in converting shots on those extra possessions. Texas Tech still owns one of the best defenses in the nation, at least on paper, with KenPom ranking the team eighth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency.
The Red Raiders are 2-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last three games in Lubbock.
Writer’s Prediction
Texas Tech wins, 65-63.
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