Utah vs. Kentucky Prediction
Can No. 19 Kentucky manhandle Utah when the Utes comes to town tonight at 5PM ET? Here’s our breakdown of this game.
627 Utah at 628 Kentucky
Saturday, December 15, 2018
5PM ET – Rupp Arena
TV: ESPN2
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Kentucky is heavily favored at home in this game, as the Wildcats are getting odds of -15.5 points against Utah. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 148.5 points. The public betting currently has 77 percent going on Kentucky as the home favorite. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our College Basketball Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Utah unable to get on track
The Utah Utes haven’t been able to string together back-to-back wins all season, but also haven’t lost back-to-back games. Utah is coming off a 74-59 loss to BYU last weekend. The Utes are 4-4 on the season, 0-1 on the road, 2-6 against the spread and 4-4 with the over/under total.
Utah hasn’t been able to establish much of an identity on either side of the ball this year. The Utes average 72.6 points per game on offense while giving up 71.9 per game on defense. Both rank in the bottom half of the nation. Sedrick Barefield is leading Utah with 14 points and 3.1 assists per game while Donnie Tillman is adding 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest.
Kentucky falls to Seton Hall
Kentucky had a seven-game win streak come to an end last weekend at MSG in an 84-83 OT loss to Seton Hall as a 7-point favorite. Kentucky is 7-2 on the season, 7-0 at home, 3-6 against the spread and 5-4 with the under.
The Wildcats have one of the top offenses in the nation, averaging 84.2 points per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the arc. Defensively, Kentucky is giving up 71.3 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot 40 percent from the arc. UK has four players that average double figures. Keldon Johnson is leading the team with 15.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while PJ Washington adds 14.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest.
College Basketball Betting Trends
Utah
Utah has covered the spread in six straight against SEC opponents, but the Utes are just 1-4 ATS in their last five non-conference games.
Kentucky
The Wildcats are 5-2 against the spread in their seven home games this season and 6-2 ATS in their last eight at home against a team with a losing road record.
Prediction:
Kentucky has dominated Utah throughout history, winning and covering all four meetings since 1998. The Utes suffered a 9-point loss at Minnesota in their only true road game this year and Kentucky has rolled at home, winning all of their games by double figures. Coming off a loss and having to wait a week to play, I expect Kentucky to want to make a statement today against Utah.
College Basketball Prediction: Kentucky -15.5