Louisville at Kentucky College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/29/2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

Rupp Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Louisville Cardinals travel to Rupp Arena to play the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday, December 29, 2017. The opening line for this game has Kentucky as 6.5 point favorites.

Louisville heads into this matchup with a mark of 10-2. They currently have a point differential of 14.2 as they are averaging 78.8 points per contest while giving up 64.6 per game. Kentucky has an overall record of 9-2. They are averaging 80.7 points per game and surrendering 70.5, good for a point differential of 10.3.

Valuable Louisville Cardinals Betting Trends

The Louisville Cardinals are 3-6 against the spread this season

The Louisville Cardinals are 5-5 against the over/under this year

Important Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 5-6 against the spread this season

The Kentucky Wildcats are 6-5 against the over/under this year

Key Louisville Cardinals Injuries

11/22/17 G Brian Bowen II Suspension is out for season

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

12/28/17 F Tai Wynyard Back is "?" Friday vs Louisville
11/22/17 F Jarred Vanderbilt Foot is out indefinitely
11/06/17 G Jemarl Baker Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Deng Adel averages 15.6 points per game while playing 32.3 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is at 81%. Quentin Snider averages 12.3 points per game in 32.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.9 assists per contest and 3.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 89%.

Player Spotlight

Kevin Knox averages 15.7 points per game while playing 34.8 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.6 rebounds per game and has 2.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 70%. Hamidou Diallo averages 15.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 28.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.6 rebounds per contest and 2.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 66%.

Useful Team Statistics

Louisville averages 78.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 95th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 14.2 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 141st. Behind the arc they shoot 36%, which is good for 148th in the country. They average 40.3 rebounds per game and 13.7 assists per game, which ranks them 33rd and 203rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 299th with 11.9 per game. The Cardinals allow 64.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 37th in Division 1. They also allow a 38% shooting percentage and a 30% average from behind the arc, ranking them 14th and 30th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 37.3 rebounds a game which ranks 277th and they give up 9.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 6th place in college basketball. They force 14.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 210th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Kentucky is 71st in the country with 80.7 points per game this year. They are 32nd in D-1 in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 10.3. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 147th in college basketball. They are 39th in the nation in rebounding with 40.0 boards per game, and 56th in assists per contest with 16.3. The Wildcats are 75th in turnovers per game with 15.0. The Wildcats surrender 70.5 points per contest, which ranks them 141st in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 32% average from 3-point range, ranking them 63rd and 89th in those defensive statistics. They rank 210th with 13.7 assists allowed per contest and 93rd with 33.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 179th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 14.0 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Cardinals are 77th in the nation in offensive rating with 111.2, and their defensive rating of 91.2 is ranked 31st. In terms of pace they are 176th in the country with 70.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 153rd. As a team they are 135th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 214th in Division 1. Louisville is 299th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 43%, which is 10th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Kentucky is 110th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 89th in Division 1. The Wildcats are 98th in the nation in defensive rating with 96.5, and their offensive rating of 110.6 is ranked 81st. They are 79th in D-1 in pace with 73 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 99th. As a unit they are 105th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 24% of their shot attempts, ranking 347th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Kentucky -6.5

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