Kentucky at Vanderbilt Odds, Prediction & TV Info

Posted by Kenny Bell on Monday,January 9, 2017 2:48, EDT in

Kentucky was ranked No. 6 in the last AP Top 25 but the Cats could move up a spot or two in Monday’s new poll. That said, UK could be on upset alert Tuesday night when they visit a Vanderbilt side that often gives Kentucky trouble in Nashville. Let’s take a look at the college basketball betting prediction for the game.

Kentucky at Vanderbilt Odds, Prediction & TV Info

When: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 7 PM ET
Where: Memorial Gymnasium, Nashville
TV: ESPN
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Kentucky / Vanderbilt
Opening NCAA Basketball Lines: TBA

Why Bet On Kentucky?

The Wildcats come off a 97-71 blowout of Arkansas on Saturday. De’Aaron Fox scored a career-high 27 points, Derek Willis and Isaiah Briscoe each added 15 and Kentucky pulled away. Bam Adebayo’s 3-point play eventually provided a 60-48 lead with 14 1/2 minutes remaining and Kentucky extended it behind Fox, who scored six straight points to make it 74-57. He shot 10 of 16 from the field to top his previous scoring best (24) against North Carolina last month.

“De’Aaron Fox is ridiculous,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “He’s been doing extra work. He’s been coming to practice early, not by choice, and he has really been working and it showed in the game.”

Willis – who shot 44.2 percent from deep overall and 50 percent in Southeastern Conference play last season – had averaged just six points over the past three games in which his defense and rebounding showed signs of improvement. In those games, he made 7-of- 21 shots from the field and 3 of 13 from 3. The veteran was 6-of- 8 from the floor, including 3-of- 5 from three-point range vs. Arkansas. Willis hit a 3-pointer at the 15:24 mark, extending Kentucky’s streak of 3-pointers to 990 consecutive games, the longest streak in the nation

UK (13-2, 3-0 SEC) overcame a quiet night from star freshman Malik Monk against his home-state school to blast past the Razorbacks (12-3, 1-2 SEC) with a dominant second half. Monk missed all five of his three points shots, scoring just 12 points in 27 minutes. It was the first time this season that the freshman failed to swish the nets from three.

Kentucky shot 52.5 percent from the field, the 10th time this season the Wildcats have hit at least half their shots. UK made 28-of- 40 foul shots, season highs in both categories. Five Wildcats scored in double figures; it’s the sixth straight game that at least one Wildcat tallied 20 or more points. Kentucky get a good job getting out on the fast break, leading that statistic 24-4.

This is the fourth time in Calipari’s eight seasons at UK that the Wildcats have been spotless through their first three league games.

Why Bet On Vanderbilt?

The Commodores (8-7) lost 59-56 at Alabama on Saturday. Tied 30-30 at halftime, Vanderbilt opened up the second half on a 12-0 run off of four unanswered 3-pointers by Riley LaChance, Payton Willis, Nolan Cressler and Matthew Fisher-Davis to take a 42-30 lead. Vanderbilt made 10 3-pointers on the night.

The Tide’s Ar’Mond Davis hit his third 3-pointer to tie things back up, 49-49, with 8:44 remaining, bringing the crowd to its feet. He sparked Alabama’s comeback with a four-point play after being fouled on his first of three 3-pointers to bring the Crimson Tide within 10, 46-36. From there, Alabama went on a 23-10 run in the final 11 minutes to secure the victory. Luke Kornet led Vanderbilt with 15 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.

The Commodores are in their 84th season of SEC basketball — Vanderbilt is one of the founding members of the Southeastern Conference. Vanderbilt’s next SEC win will be its 700th all-time league win. Vanderbilt leads the SEC in three-point field goal percentage (40.4%), in threes made (10.2) and free throw percentage (77.7%). Fisher-Davis leads the team in scoring with 16.4 points per game, while Kornet adds 12.6 points, and Jeff Roberson 10.1.

LaChance leads the SEC in three-point field goal percentage (58.8%) and assist-to- turnover ratio (2.8). He is also eighth in the league in assists (4.3) and eighth in three’s made (2.1). Fisher-Davis is fifth in the SEC in scoring, second in the league in three’s made (3.1), and fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.425). Roberson ranks third in the SEC in defensive rebounding and is fifth in rebounding (7.6). Kornet is tied for seventh in the SEC in blocks (2.0) and 9th in free throw percentage (.836).

Kentucky at Vanderbilt Prediction: Kentucky Wildcats

Go Kentucky on NCAA basketball odds. This Vandy team isn’t as strong as other recent ones.