Tennessee at Kentucky Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 2/16/2019

Saturday, February 16, 2019

Rupp Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Tennessee Volunteers travel to Rupp Arena to play the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, February 16, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Kentucky as 3 point favorites.

Tennessee heads into this matchup with a mark of 23-1. They currently have a point differential of 17.9 as they are averaging 85.4 points per contest while giving up 67.5 per game. Kentucky has an overall record of 20-4. They are averaging 78.4 points per game and surrendering 65.5, good for a point differential of 12.9.

Valuable Tennessee Volunteers Betting Trends

The Tennessee Volunteers are 13-9-1 against the spread

The Tennessee Volunteers are 13-10-0 against the over/under

Important Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 13-10-1 against the spread

The Kentucky Wildcats are 9-15-0 against the over/under

Key Tennessee Volunteers Injuries

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

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

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

Player Spotlight

Admiral Schofield averages 16.7 points per game in 31.2 minutes per contest. He averages 2.5 assists per contest and 6.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%. Grant Williams comes into this contest averaging 19.4 points per game while playing 31.6 minutes per night. He pulls down 7.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 52% while his free throw percentage is at 83%.

Player Spotlight

Keldon Johnson averages 14.1 points per game and he sees the court an average of 30.0 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.3 rebounds per contest and 1.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 74%. PJ Washington averages 14.4 points per game while playing 28.2 minutes per contest. He grabs 8.1 rebounds per game and has 1.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is at 70%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Volunteers allow 67.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 78th in Division 1. They also allow a 39% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the arc, ranking them 13th and 128th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.7 rebounds a game which ranks 115th, and they give up 12.4 assists per contest which puts them in 118th place in the NCAA. They force 13.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 213th in the nation. Tennessee averages 85.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 7th in the country. Their average scoring margin is 17.9 and their shooting percentage is 52% as a team, which has them ranked 2nd. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 66th in D-1. They average 38.1 rebounds per game and 19.9 assists per contest, which ranks them 55th and 1st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 311th with 11.3 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Wildcats surrender 65.5 points per contest, which ranks them 41st in the NCAA. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 41st and 247th in those defensive statistics. They rank 33rd with 11.0 assists allowed per contest, and 7th with 29.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 239th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 14.2 per game. Kentucky is 59th in the country with 78.4 points per game this year. They are 43rd in the D-1 in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 12.9. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 134th in the nation. They are 29th in the country in rebounding with 39.2 boards per game and 120th in assists per contest with 14.2. The Wildcats are 212th in turnovers per game with 12.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Volunteers are 3rd in the nation in offensive rating with 119.5. In terms of pace they are 123rd in the country with 70.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 57% is 9th. As a team they are 6th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 333rd in Division 1. Tennessee is 329th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Kentucky is 223rd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.8 times per 100 possessions. The Wildcats have an offensive rating of 112.7, which is ranked 27th. They are 205th in D-1 in pace with 69.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 108th. As a unit they are 64th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 337th in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Kentucky -3

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