Kentucky at Tennessee Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 3/2/2019

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Thompson-Boling Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Kentucky Wildcats head to Thompson-Boling Arena to take on the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, March 2, 2019. The opening line for this game has Tennessee as 2.5 point favorites.

Kentucky comes into this game with an overall record of 24-4. They currently have a point differential of 13.0 as they are averaging 78.0 points per game while giving up 64.9 per contest. Tennessee has an overall record of 25-3. They are averaging 83.2 points per game and surrendering 68.1, good for a point differential of 15.1.

Valuable Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 15-12-1 against the spread this season

The Kentucky Wildcats are 10-18-0 against the over/under this year

Important Tennessee Volunteers Betting Trends

The Tennessee Volunteers are 13-13-1 against the spread this season

The Tennessee Volunteers are 15-12-0 against the over/under this year

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

12/14/18 G Quade Green Transferred is out for season
02/24/19 F Reid Travis Ankle is out 2-3 weeks

Key Tennessee Volunteers Injuries

11/09/18 F Zach Kent Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

PJ Washington comes into this game averaging 15.0 points per contest while playing 29.0 minutes per night this year. He grabs 7.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 57% while his free throw percentage is 67%. Tyler Herro averages 14.2 points per contest in 31.4 minutes per game. He averages 2.3 assists per game and 4.4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% for the season while his free throw percentage is 93%.

Player Spotlight

Grant Williams scores 19.1 points per contest while playing 32.2 minutes per game. He hauls in 7.6 rebounds per contest and has 3.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 57% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Admiral Schofield averages 16.7 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.4 rebounds per game and has 2.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

Kentucky averages 78.0 points per contest, which is 59th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 13.0 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 29th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 94th in the nation. They average 39.0 boards per contest and 14.0 assists per game, which ranks them 30th and 130th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 198th with 12.9 per game. The Wildcats allow 64.9 points per contest, which is 33rd in the NCAA. They also surrender a 40% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 24th and 233rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 29.3 rebounds a game which ranks 6th, and they allow 11.0 assists per game which puts them in 37th place in the country. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 194th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Tennessee is 15th in the nation with 83.2 points per contest this season. They are 2nd in the country in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 15.1. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 118th in the NCAA. They are 66th in D-1 in rebounding with 37.7 boards per contest and 4th in assists per game with 18.9. The Volunteers are 313th in turnovers per contest with 11.3. The Volunteers give up 68.1 points per game, which ranks them 89th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 39% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 14th and 126th in those defensive statistics. They rank 110th with 12.3 dimes allowed per game and 128th with 33.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Volunteers are 179th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 13.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 20th in the nation in offensive rating with 113.5. In terms of pace they are 241st in the country with 68.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 71st. As a team they are 36th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 331st in Division 1. Kentucky is 196th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Tennessee is 327th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions. The Volunteers have an offensive rating of 117.2, which is ranked 5th. They are 141st in D-1 in pace with 70.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 18th. As a unit they are 12th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 329th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Kentucky +2.5

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