Louisville vs Kentucky NCAA Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/28/2019

Game: Louisville Cardinals vs Kentucky Wildcats

Date: Saturday, December 28, 2019

Location: Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY

TV: CBS

Odds/Point Spread: Kentucky -1

Total/Over-Under: 132

The Louisville Cardinals travel to Rupp Arena to play the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, December 28, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Kentucky as 1 point favorites.

Louisville heads into this matchup with a mark of 11-1. They currently have a point differential of 18.3 as they are averaging 76.7 points per contest while giving up 58.4 per game. Kentucky has an overall record of 8-3. They are averaging 74.5 points per game and surrendering 61.2, good for a point differential of 13.3.

Valuable Louisville Cardinals Betting Trends

The Louisville Cardinals are 7-5-0 against the spread

The Louisville Cardinals are 6-6-0 against the over/under

Important Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 4-7-0 against the spread

The Kentucky Wildcats are 4-7-0 against the over/under

Key Louisville Cardinals Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

12/21/19 F Ben Jordan Head is questionable
11/28/19 F Nate Sestina Wrist is out indefinitely
11/07/19 G Dontaie Allen Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jordan Nwora comes into this contest averaging 21.2 points per game while playing 30.8 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 7.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 80%. Steven Enoch averages 11.1 points per game in 21.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.4 assists per contest and 7.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 57% for the year while his free throw percentage is 72%.

Player Spotlight

Ashton Hagans averages 13.9 points per game while playing 31.8 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.9 rebounds per game and has 7.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. Tyrese Maxey averages 13.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.1 rebounds per contest and 3.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Louisville averages 76.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 84th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 18.3 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team, which has them ranked 24th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 35th in the nation. They average 40.5 rebounds per game and 15.3 assists per game, which ranks them 37th and 69th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 264th with 12.5 per game. The Cardinals allow 58.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 15th in the country. They also allow a 35% shooting percentage and a 27% average from behind the arc, ranking them 3rd and 13th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.3 rebounds a game which ranks 64th and they give up 9.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 26th place in Division 1. They force 11.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Kentucky is 127th in the country with 74.5 points per game this year. They are 78th in Division 1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 13.3. They shoot 28% from 3-point range, which is good for 327th in the nation. They are 116th in the NCAA in rebounding with 37.7 boards per game, and 61st in assists per contest with 15.5. The Wildcats are 257th in turnovers per game with 12.6. The Wildcats surrender 61.2 points per contest, which ranks them 32nd in D-1. Their defense allows a 39% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 38th and 96th in those defensive statistics. They rank 75th with 11.0 assists allowed per contest and 31st with 30.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 152nd in country in forcing turnovers with 13.7 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Cardinals are 10th in the nation in offensive rating with 113.7. In terms of pace they are 299th in the country with 67.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 24th. As a team they are 19th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 169th in Division 1. Louisville is 225th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.1 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Kentucky is 254th 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 106.6, which is ranked 87th. They are 212th in D-1 in pace with 69.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 174th. As a unit they are 102nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shot attempts, ranking 335th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Kentucky -1

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