Kansas State at Kentucky College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/22/2018

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Phillips Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Kansas State Wildcats travel to Phillips Arena to play the Kentucky Wildcats on Thursday, March 22, 2018. The opening line for this game has Kentucky as 5 point favorites.

Kansas State heads into this matchup with a mark of 24-11. They currently have a point differential of 4.7 as they are averaging 71.6 points per contest while giving up 66.9 per game. Kentucky has an overall mark of 26-10. They are averaging 77.3 points per contest and giving up 70.5, which is a point differential of 6.8.

Valuable Kansas State Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kansas State Wildcats are 15-17 against the spread this season

The Kansas State Wildcats are 10-17 against the over/under this year

Important Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 18-17 against the spread this season

The Kentucky Wildcats are 18-13 against the over/under this year

Key Kansas State Wildcats Injuries

03/18/18 F Dean Wade Foot is "?" Thursday vs Kentucky

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

11/06/17 G Jemarl Baker Knee is out for season
03/17/18 F Jarred Vanderbilt Ankle is "?" Thursday vs Kansas State
02/05/18 F Tai Wynyard Suspension is out for season

Player Spotlight

Barry Brown averages 16.1 points per game in 34.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.3 assists per contest and 3.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 77%. Dean Wade averages 16.5 points per game while playing 33.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 6.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 74%.

Player Spotlight

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 14.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.1 rebounds per contest and 5.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 82%. Kevin Knox averages 15.7 points per game while playing 32.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.3 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 77%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Wildcats allow 66.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 46th in the nation. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 76th and 51st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.9 rebounds a game which ranks 122nd, and they give up 12.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 102nd place in the country. They force 14.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 280th in college basketball. Kansas State averages 71.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 242nd in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 4.7 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 55th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 210th in D-1. They average 30.9 rebounds per game and 14.0 assists per game, which ranks them 339th and 146th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 287th with 11.7 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Wildcats surrender 70.5 points per contest, which ranks them 127th in the country. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 21st and 3rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 127th with 12.8 assists allowed per contest, and 109th with 33.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 77th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 11.8 per game this season. Kentucky is 79th in Division 1 with 77.3 points per game this year. They are 43rd in the country in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 6.8. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 114th in the nation. They are 30th in college basketball in rebounding with 38.7 boards per game and 188th in assists per contest with 13.4. The Wildcats are 178th in turnovers per game with 12.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 94th in the country in defensive rating with 100, and their offensive rating of 107.1 is ranked 119th. They are 305th in college basketball in pace with 66.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 87th. As a unit they are 76th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 181st in D-1. Kansas State is 206th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 84th in the country.

Advanced Statistics

Kentucky is 205th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 23rd in Division 1. The Wildcats are 104th in the nation in defensive rating with 100.4, and their offensive rating of 110.1 is ranked 64th. They are 150th in D-1 in pace with 70 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 139th. As a unit they are 114th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 26% of their shot attempts, ranking 345th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Kentucky -5

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