Harvard at Kentucky College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/2/2017

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Rupp Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Harvard Crimson travel to Rupp Arena to play the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, December 2, 2017. The opening line for this game has Kentucky as 19.5 point favorites.

Harvard comes into this game with an overall record of 3-5. They currently have a point differential of -4.1 as they are averaging 68.9 points per game while giving up 73.0 per contest. Kentucky has an overall record of 6-1. They are averaging 78.3 points per game and surrendering 65.7, good for a point differential of 12.6.

Valuable Harvard Crimson Betting Trends

The Harvard Crimson are 1-5 against the spread this season

The Harvard Crimson are 2-4 against the over/under this year

Important Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 3-4 against the spread this season

The Kentucky Wildcats are 2-5 against the over/under this year

Key Harvard Crimson Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

11/22/17 F Jarred Vanderbilt Foot is out indefinitely
11/06/17 G Jemarl Baker Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Chris Lewis averages 13.8 points per game in 26.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.6 assists per contest and 5.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 64% for the year while his free throw percentage is 67%. Bryce Aiken averages 19 points per game while playing 32.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 2.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is at 78%.

Player Spotlight

Hamidou Diallo averages 12.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 27.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.6 rebounds per contest and 2.6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 68%. Kevin Knox averages 16.1 points per game while playing 35.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.7 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 67%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Crimson allow 73.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 198th in the nation. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 268th and 261st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.4 rebounds a game which ranks 198th, and they give up 12.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 160th place in the country. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 192nd in college basketball. Harvard averages 68.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 284th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is -4.1 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a team, which has them ranked 274th. Behind the arc they shoot 28% which is good for 330th in D-1. They average 32.6 rebounds per game and 12.8 assists per game, which ranks them 308th and 246th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 120th with 14.5 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Wildcats surrender 65.7 points per contest, which ranks them 68th in the country. Their defense allows a 38% shooting percentage and a 28% average from 3-point range, ranking them 46th and 28th in those defensive statistics. They rank 131st with 12.3 assists allowed per contest, and 75th with 32.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 101st in the nation in forcing turnovers with 13.0 per game this season. Kentucky is 136th in Division 1 with 78.3 points per game this year. They are 24th in the country in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 12.6. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 84th in the nation. They are 39th in college basketball in rebounding with 41.4 boards per game and 70th in assists per contest with 16.3. The Wildcats are 60th in turnovers per game with 15.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Crimson are 222nd in the country in defensive rating with 102.1, and their offensive rating of 96.3 is ranked 302nd. They are 228th in college basketball in pace with 70.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 48% is 282nd. As a unit they are 255th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 114th in D-1. Harvard is 90th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 254th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Kentucky is 68th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 44%, which is 44th in Division 1. The Wildcats are 58th in the nation in defensive rating with 91.5, and their offensive rating of 108.9 is ranked 129th. They are 160th in D-1 in pace with 71.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 83rd. As a unit they are 122nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 21% of their shot attempts, ranking 351st in the country.

Who will win tonight's Harvard/Kentucky college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Kentucky -19.5

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