#16 Kentucky vs #21 LSU | NCAAB Lines Predictions

Th lone game around college basketball to feature a pair of Top 25 teams on Tuesday is from the SEC as No. 16 Kentucky visits No. 21 LSU. The Tigers are short favorites on the NCAAB odds.

How to Bet Kentucky at LSU NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 7 PM ET
Where: Pete Maravich Assembly Center
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN app
Radio: Tunein.com
Opening NCAAB Lines: LSU -1 (total 140.5)

Series History

Kentucky leads the series 91-27 overall, including a 32-18 mark when the game is played in Baton Rouge. The teams played just once last season, but will see each other twice in 2022. The Tigers make the return trip to Lexington, Kentucky, on Feb. 23. The Wildcats have won four of the last five meetings, including two straight in Baton Rouge.

Why Bet on Kentucky?

UK (11-2) last played on New Year’s Eve and beat High Point 92-48. Kentucky shot 58% from the field in the first half and led 43-25 at the break. High Point closed to 47-34 on Zach Austin’s 3-pointer with 17:14 left, but Kellan Grady responded with three three-pointers to blow it back open. Grady tied his season high with 23 points. Grady has hit 20 of 31 3-pointers over the last four games and 25 of 45 over the last six. He ranks first in the SEC in 3-point field-goal percentage (50%) and fifth nationally.

Kentucky made 10 of 26 3-pointers, the second time UK has made at least 10 treys this season. The Wildcats are 4-0 this season when making eight or more 3-pointers.

UK held High Point to 19 of 61 from the floor, 31.1%. That’s the Wildcats’ best defensive field-goal percentage of the season and the best since Kansas shot 29.9% on Dec. 1, 2020, in last season’s Champions Classic. The last three Kentucky opponents have been held to 32.8% shooting or lower. The Wildcats improved to 217-24 under John Calipari when they hold the opposition to 40% or less and 8-0 this season when holding the opponent below 40% from the field.

UK remains a perfect 82-0 under Calipari when holding the opposition to 55 points or fewer, including 3-0 this season. The Wildcats are also 197-9 under Calipari when holding the opponent to 63 points or fewer, including 9-0 this season.

Kentucky has played a true road game just one time this season. And it did not turn out well. The Cats struggled offensively, hitting just two of 19 (10.5 percent) from behind the arc, in a 66-62 loss at Notre Dame on Dec. 11.

“That was our first true road game with a new team who had never been in that situation before,” said assistant coach Chin Coleman. “Now, we have that experience and experience is the best teacher. From now on, we know that our job is to go on the road with a different mentality and to play with a swagger.”

Oscar Tshiebwe leads the nation in rebounding (15.2) and offensive rebounding percentage (23.5%) and second in double-doubles (10). He has double-figure boards in all but two games. UK ranks in the top 20 nationally in scoring margin (third), scoring (third), field-goal percentage (12th), assists per game and 3-point field-goal percentage defense (15th).

Why Bet on LSU?

LSU (12-1) was last in action Dec. 29 and lost to No. 11 Auburn 70-55. Auburn jumped out to an 18-1 lead and didn’t look back. LSU made 5-of-25 field goals in the first half, including 3-of-16 from outside the arc. LSU would end the game shooting 28.6% (18-of-63) with 6 makes on 29 long-distance attempts. LSU was led in scoring by Xavier Pinson, who had 13 points, while Darius Days and Tari Eason each scored 11. Brandon Murray missed the Auburn game with a hamstring injury but should play here.

Auburn became the first team to hit 70 points against LSU this season, hitting a late three to get to the number. It ended a 28-game winning streak for LSU holding teams to 70 points or less. LSU is still giving up just 55.3 points this season and that is fourth in the nation in scoring defense.

LSU is now 51-39 in league openers and will be trying to avoid an 0-2 start in the league for the first time since the 2012-13 season. Since the start of the 2018-19 season, LSU has won 39 SEC games, tied for the most of any team in the league. The freshman averages 8.8 points per game.

LSU is averaging 77.7 points a game which is fifth in the SEC, but LSU’s scoring margin of +22.4 points is first in the SEC and fifth in the nation. LSU is outscoring teams 564-385 in the final 20 minutes of play, including the one overtime game. LSU is averaging scoring 43.4 points in the second half compared to 29.6 points by opponents. In its 12 wins, LSU has been down by at least seven points five times this season.

LSU is second in the nation in total steals (163) and is averaging forcing nearly 20 turnovers a game. Those steals lead to offense in transition and fast break baskets. LSU has a 243-93 advantage in fast break points through 13 games and an also impressive 308-137 advantage in points off turnovers. LSU is averaging 23.7 points a game off turnovers, compared to 10.5 for opponents.

The Tigers have an 11-game win streak at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center dating back to the final three home games of the 2020-21 season.