Tennessee at Kentucky prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Saturday, February 18
Tennessee at Kentucky How To Watch
Date: Saturday, February 18
Game Time: 1:00 ET
Venue: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
How To Watch: CBS
Record: Tennessee (20-6), Kentucky (17-9)
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Tennessee at Kentucky Game Preview
Why Tennessee Will Win
Score against Kentucky, beat Kentucky.
It’s not like the Wildcats can’t put up points, but they can’t hang whenever there’s any sort of shootout happening. That might not be the way Tennessee rolls – it’s about defense and control – but it put up 85 against Missouri a few days ago and it was able to get hot in the win over Texas.
Kentucky is 0-7 when allowing 75 points or more and 2-8 when giving up more than 69.
It’s also 1-2 in its last three home games because it couldn’t stop anything Arkansas wanted to do inside or out, and Kansas was solid in all phases and stoped UK from doing much from three.
But …
– CFN College Basketball Rankings 1-68
Why Kentucky Will Win
Again, shootouts aren’t what Tennessee does.
It’s got the best defense in the nation, allowing teams to hit just 36% from the field and under 25% from three. That didn’t matter much in the first meeting – a 63-56 Kentucky win – and why? The road team dominated on the boards.
Tennessee is normally amazing on the glass, the Kentucky was +18 in rebounding margin. It leads the SEC in the category and it should be able to crank up enough offensive boards this time around to make up for the problems with the Volunteer defensive pressure.
– NCAA Tournament Bracket Projections
What’s Going To Happen
Kentucky should be a bit better on the move.
As long as you don’t let the Tennessee defense set up and get settled, everything is okay. Kentucky’s defense from three will be fine, the offense will be decent from the outside, and no, the Vols won’t get to 75 points.
– Top 25 AP Poll | Coaches Poll
Tennessee at Kentucky Prediction, Line
Kentucky 68, Tennessee 65
Line: Tennessee -2, o/u: 135.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5
Must See Ranking: 3.5
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