The SEC has become a battleground where national champions have been determined in college football, with the team that survives the conference schedule more often than not earning the right to fight for the BCS title. While the same cannot be said about the action on the hard court, the SEC is well represented in basketball by the second-ranked team in the country in the Kentucky Wildcats. The Wildcats trail only the undefeated and No. 1 Syracuse Orange for the best record in the nation, and will look to keep pace with them this Saturday as sports betting favorites when they welcome the Alabama Crimson Tide.
[FONT="]Alabama Crimson Tide @ (2) Kentucky Wildcats[/FONT]
[FONT="]Saturday January 21, 2012 – 12:00 PM ET[/FONT]
[FONT="]Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky[/FONT]
[FONT="]College Basketball Betting[/FONT][FONT="] Lines: Kentucky Wildcats – 8.5[/FONT]
The Crimson Tide are celebrating a national championship of their own on the football side of the equation, but the basketball program has also opened their year on a strong note. Alabama has won 13 of its first 17 games overall, but is coming off a tough road loss to No. 15 Mississippi State and will be in tough to bounce back at the Rupp.
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]College Basketball Betting Preview: Alabama[/FONT]
While the Alabama football program will send a handful of prospects to the NFL combine over the next few months, the basketball program has banked on a star of its own in junior forward Tony Mitchell. Mitchell leads the Crimson Tide in both points per game and rebounding with averages of 14.5 and 7.5 respectively, and he hasn’t had to do it alone with fellow forward JaMychal Green right behind him in both categories, and the senior has helped him develop his game at both ends of the floor. Alabama has been efficient at both ends of the floor and nearly upset the Bulldogs, so they can’t be overlooked.
[FONT="]College Basketball Betting Preview: Kentucky[/FONT]
Freshman Anthony Davis solidified his arrival in Kentucky with a career-high 27 points in an 86-63 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks, and he was able to get the job done at both ends of the floor. Davis is averaging 13.8 points per game and 10.4 rebounds, and his play has helped take some of the pressure off of sophomore Doron Lamb, who leads the team in average points with 14. Kentucky can keep up with the best teams in the nation in terms of scoring and rebounding, and their success this year will ultimately come down to their ability to focus and bear down in crucial moments.
[FONT="]College Basketball Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick[/FONT]
While Alabama cannot be overlooked, the Wildcats won’t have to worry about that problem as they remain one of the most focused and consistent teams in the country. Kentucky will use these next couple of weeks to now develop their confidence and build on their chemistry, and given the individual talents on this team, that could be devastating to their opponents and to the spreads listed by the pay head bookies.
[FONT="]College Basketball Betting Pick: Kentucky Wildcats – 8.5[/FONT]
[FONT="]Alabama Crimson Tide @ (2) Kentucky Wildcats[/FONT]
[FONT="]Saturday January 21, 2012 – 12:00 PM ET[/FONT]
[FONT="]Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky[/FONT]
[FONT="]College Basketball Betting[/FONT][FONT="] Lines: Kentucky Wildcats – 8.5[/FONT]
The Crimson Tide are celebrating a national championship of their own on the football side of the equation, but the basketball program has also opened their year on a strong note. Alabama has won 13 of its first 17 games overall, but is coming off a tough road loss to No. 15 Mississippi State and will be in tough to bounce back at the Rupp.
[FONT="] [/FONT]
[FONT="]College Basketball Betting Preview: Alabama[/FONT]
While the Alabama football program will send a handful of prospects to the NFL combine over the next few months, the basketball program has banked on a star of its own in junior forward Tony Mitchell. Mitchell leads the Crimson Tide in both points per game and rebounding with averages of 14.5 and 7.5 respectively, and he hasn’t had to do it alone with fellow forward JaMychal Green right behind him in both categories, and the senior has helped him develop his game at both ends of the floor. Alabama has been efficient at both ends of the floor and nearly upset the Bulldogs, so they can’t be overlooked.
[FONT="]College Basketball Betting Preview: Kentucky[/FONT]
Freshman Anthony Davis solidified his arrival in Kentucky with a career-high 27 points in an 86-63 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks, and he was able to get the job done at both ends of the floor. Davis is averaging 13.8 points per game and 10.4 rebounds, and his play has helped take some of the pressure off of sophomore Doron Lamb, who leads the team in average points with 14. Kentucky can keep up with the best teams in the nation in terms of scoring and rebounding, and their success this year will ultimately come down to their ability to focus and bear down in crucial moments.
[FONT="]College Basketball Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick[/FONT]
While Alabama cannot be overlooked, the Wildcats won’t have to worry about that problem as they remain one of the most focused and consistent teams in the country. Kentucky will use these next couple of weeks to now develop their confidence and build on their chemistry, and given the individual talents on this team, that could be devastating to their opponents and to the spreads listed by the pay head bookies.
[FONT="]College Basketball Betting Pick: Kentucky Wildcats – 8.5[/FONT]
