LSU at Kentucky Spread, Betting Pick & TV Info

Pretty much everyone expected Kentucky to win the SEC this season and perhaps run the table in the fairly watered down conference. I was one of those people. But the young Cats are struggling in losing three of four and aren’t leading the conference any longer. They also will fall out of the Top 10 in the polls later Monday. But the Wildcats will still be huge NCAA basketball betting favorites over a bad LSU team on Tuesday.

LSU at Kentucky Spread, Betting Pick & TV Info

Final: Duop Reath finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Brandon Sampson led the team with 19 points. pic.twitter.com/OLpIWsYc9h

— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) February 5, 2017

When: Tuesday, Feb. 7, 7 PM ET Where: Rupp Arena, Lexington TV: ESPN Stream: WatchESPN Radio: LSU / Kentucky Opening NCAAB Lines: UK favored by TBA

Why Bet On LSU?

It’s likely that LSU coach Johnny Jones is going to be fired after this season because the Tigers (9-13) are going to miss the NCAA Tournament again as it is tied in the SEC basement at 1-9 in conference play with Missouri. LSU also enters on an eight-game losing streak. On Saturday, LSU lost 85-73 at home to Texas A&M. The Tigers did manage to hold a lead for the first time in three games, a stretch that went back to a 35-point setback to Florida on Jan. 25. When Brandon Sampson made the first basket of the game at the 18:45 mark, it had been 117 minutes, 45 seconds since LSU last led. After relinquishing the lead against Florida early in the first half, the Tigers never led during losses to Texas Tech and South Carolina. LSU was led by Sampson, who had 21 points. He was 5 of 10 from the field, including 2 of 4 from beyond the 3-point line, and made all nine of his free-throw attempts. Duop Reath had a season high 16 rebounds to go with 16 points as he was 7-of- 15 from the field with two treys. Wayde Sims had 15 points and eight boards on 7-of- 11 shooting with 1 trey and Skylar Mays had 12 points on 3-of- 6 shooting with two treys and 4-of- 4 free throws. Sampson and Mays were the only two Tigers to get to the line and LSU was 13-of- 13 for the game. The last time LSU was perfect at the free throw line was almost five years ago on Feb. 8, 2012 when LSU was 10-of- 10 at the stripe. Texas A&M shot 46 percent for the game (29-of- 63) with eight made threes and 19-of- 26 at the line. LSU was 45.6 percent for the game (26-of- 57), but hit 15-of- 27 shots in the second half (55.6%) and 5-of- 9 from the arc. All 13 free throws made came in the second half. LSU out rebounded the Aggies, 36-34, but the Aggies had a 17-6 advantage in points off turnovers as LSU turned the ball over 17 times to just eight for A&M. Why Bet On Kentucky? Kentucky (18-5) was stomped 88-66 at Florida on Saturday. The Cats had just seven assists in the game, a season low. Five times this season Kentucky has failed to average a point per possession, which is the baseline number for offensive efficiency. Three of those have occurred in the last four games. Florida was able to control the glass, outrebounding Kentucky 54-29, including 17-6 on the offensive end. Florida had 17 second-chance points, compared to just seven for Kentucky. The Cats were held to a season-low 26 points in the first half, when the Wildcats hit just nine-of- 30 (30 percent) from the floor in the first half. The Wildcats finished the game 23-of- 61 (37.7 percent) from the floor, compared to Florida’s 30-of- 62 (48.4 percent). The Gators had 18 fast break points, while Kentucky had just eight. UK’s season-low of first-half points has decreased each of the last three games. Florida’s 34 first-half rebounds were the most by a UK opponent in the opening stanza this year. A margin of nine more rebounds than Ole Miss pulled down in the previous high. UK tied its season low for made field goals with 23 (at Louisville, vs. Michigan State). De’Aaron Fox scored 19 points while Malik Monk was the only other Wildcat in double figures, scoring 11 points in the game. Bam Adebayo had nine points and a team-high seven rebounds for Kentucky. Senior Mychal Mulder returned after missing four games due to illness, and scored eight points on 3 of 6 shooting from the field, including two 3s. UK lost by 20 points or more for the first time since falling 88-58 at Tennessee Feb. 16, 2013. Notably Nerlens Noel suffered a season-ending ACL injury at Florida the game prior to that. Kentucky trailed by at least double-digits for the fourth straight game. This is the only scheduled meeting between UK and LSU. LSU at Kentucky Betting Pick:  I would imagine the Cats had a couple of really grueling practices after that loss and will play with plenty of focus here. Give the points.