Kentucky at Alabama College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/5/2019

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Coleman Coliseum

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Kentucky Wildcats travel to Coleman Coliseum to play the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, January 5, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Kentucky as 4.5 point favorites.

Kentucky comes into this game with an overall record of 10-2. They currently have a point differential of 13.7 as they are averaging 83.1 points per game while giving up 69.4 per contest. Alabama has an overall mark of 9-3. They are averaging 76.5 points per contest and giving up 71.3, which is a point differential of 5.2.

Valuable Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 6-6-0 against the spread

The Kentucky Wildcats are 5-7-0 against the over/under

Important Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Trends

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 4-7-1 against the spread

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 9-2-1 against the over/under

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

12/14/18 G Quade Green Transferred is out for season

Key Alabama Crimson Tide Injuries

11/29/18 F Javian Davis-Fleming Undisclosed is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Keldon Johnson comes into this contest averaging 16.8 points per game while playing 31.4 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 71%. Reid Travis averages 14.6 points per game in 28.0 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.2 assists per contest and 6.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 56% for the year while his free throw percentage is 72%.

Player Spotlight

Kira Lewis Jr. averages 15.0 points per game while playing 31.0 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 2.3 rebounds per game and has 3.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. John Petty averages 11.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.2 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

Kentucky averages 83.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 30th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 13.7 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team, which has them ranked 22nd. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 109th in the nation. They average 39.4 rebounds per game and 14.6 assists per game, which ranks them 53rd and 124th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 123rd with 14.2 per game. The Wildcats allow 69.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 134th in the country. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 122nd and 322nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 27.7 rebounds a game which ranks 1st and they give up 12.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 116th place in Division 1. They force 14.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 245th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Alabama is 128th in the country with 76.5 points per game this year. They are 145th in Division 1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 5.2. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 194th in the nation. They are 68th in the NCAA in rebounding with 39.0 boards per game, and 243rd in assists per contest with 12.8. The Crimson Tide are 148th in turnovers per game with 13.8. The Crimson Tide surrender 71.3 points per contest, which ranks them 183rd in D-1. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 232nd and 240th in those defensive statistics. They rank 32nd with 10.4 assists allowed per contest and 65th with 32.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Crimson Tide are 118th in country in forcing turnovers with 13.1 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 25th in the nation in offensive rating with 115.3. In terms of pace they are 142nd in the country with 71.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 59th. As a team they are 23rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 330th in Division 1. Kentucky is 149th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.8 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Alabama is 159th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.7 times per 100 possessions. The Crimson Tide have an offensive rating of 107.5, which is ranked 122nd. They are 156th in D-1 in pace with 71.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 179th. As a unit they are 157th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 244th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Alabama +4.5

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