Alabama at Kentucky College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/17/2018

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Rupp Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Alabama Crimson Tide travel to Rupp Arena to play the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, February 17, 2018. The opening line for this game has Kentucky as 3.5 point favorites.

Alabama heads into this matchup with a mark of 17-9. They currently have a point differential of 5.4 as they are averaging 73.5 points per contest while giving up 68.2 per game. Kentucky has an overall mark of 17-9. They are averaging 75.6 points per contest and giving up 70.7, which is a point differential of 4.9.

Valuable Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Trends

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 14-10 against the spread this season

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 7-18 against the over/under this year

Important Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 9-16 against the spread this season

The Kentucky Wildcats are 13-13 against the over/under this year

Key Alabama Crimson Tide Injuries

11/09/17 G Ar'Mond Davis Knee is out for season
01/01/18 G Riley Norris Hip is out for season

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

11/06/17 G Jemarl Baker Knee is out for season
02/05/18 F Tai Wynyard Suspension is out for season

Player Spotlight

Collin Sexton averages 18.3 points per game while playing 29.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 77%. Donta Hall averages 11.4 points per game in 23.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.6 assists per contest and 7.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 75% for the year while his free throw percentage is 58%.

Player Spotlight

Kevin Knox averages 15.2 points per game while playing 32.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.5 rebounds per game and has 1.5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 75%. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 12.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.7 rebounds per contest and 4.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

Alabama averages 73.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 194th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 5.4 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 63rd. Behind the arc they shoot 33%, which is good for 267th in the country. They average 36.4 rebounds per game and 12.9 assists per game, which ranks them 119th and 230th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 90th with 14.0 per game. The Crimson Tide allow 68.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 72nd in Division 1. They also allow a 41% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the arc, ranking them 23rd and 23rd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.3 rebounds a game which ranks 203rd and they give up 11.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 40th place in college basketball. They force 13.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 212th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Kentucky is 130th in the country with 75.6 points per game this year. They are 89th in D-1 in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 4.9. They shoot 33% from 3-point range, which is good for 284th in college basketball. They are 37th in the nation in rebounding with 38.9 boards per game, and 210th in assists per contest with 13.2. The Wildcats are 114th in turnovers per game with 13.8. The Wildcats surrender 70.7 points per contest, which ranks them 137th in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 29% average from 3-point range, ranking them 37th and 2nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 180th with 13.4 assists allowed per contest and 144th with 34.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 89th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.3 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Crimson Tide are 182nd in the nation in offensive rating with 104.3, and their defensive rating of 96.6 is ranked 48th. In terms of pace they are 139th in the country with 70.5 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 124th. As a team they are 124th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 253rd in Division 1. Alabama is 75th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 46%, which is 20th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Kentucky is 140th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 32nd in Division 1. The Wildcats are 101st in the nation in defensive rating with 99.6, and their offensive rating of 106.4 is ranked 134th. They are 128th in D-1 in pace with 70.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 202nd. As a unit they are 182nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 25% of their shot attempts, ranking 346th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Kentucky -3.5

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