Georgia vs Kentucky Odds, Pick & Prediction: Bet This Home Favorite
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images). Pictured: Rob Dillingham (left) and John Calipari (right).
Georgia Bulldogs vs Kentucky Wildcats Odds
| Georgia Bulldogs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+14.5 -115 | 163.5 -110o / -110u | +750 |
| Kentucky Wildcats Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-14.5 -105 | 163.5 -110o / -110u | -1200 |
Georgia pulled off the biggest win of its season against South Carolina on Tuesday, and the Bulldogs will have a chance to follow up that win against one of the best teams in the country in No. 8 Kentucky.
Let's dive into the college basketball odds for Georgia vs. Kentucky and make a prediction in our SEC betting preview.
The DNA of most really good Mike White-coached teams is on the defensive end. That's not an exception this year, as the Bulldogs rank in the top 50 in defensive efficiency. The defensive scheme isn't super aggressive in forcing turnovers (226th in turnover percentage), but the sheer number of plus defenders and athletes makes Georgia's defense dangerous.
On offense, meanwhile, there have been serious struggles. I'm not sure who the go-to player is in the biggest moments. Sharpshooting wing Jabri Abdur-Rahim leads the team in scoring, but he's mostly limited to just shooting.
Freshman Silas Demary Jr., a top-40 recruit, is quickly morphing into the go-to scoring option in conference play. The dynamic 6-foot-5 guard has scored at least 10 points in five straight games. He's finding his groove at the perfect time for a surging Georgia team. Not only is Demary an effective scorer, he grades out as Georgia's best defender (4.7 dBPM.)
Seven Bulldogs average 6.6 or more points, including Demary, Abdur-Rahim and former Niagara star Noah Thomasson. The latter could play a major role since Georgia will need plenty of points against the up-tempo Wildcats.
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Everyone wanted John Calipari to get with the times and start playing modern basketball. Well, the legendary head coach finally listened, and Kentucky is right in the title contender discussion.
The Wildcats play faster than ever (ranked 18th in adjusted tempo) and shoot the ball better than ever (38% from distance). That's an outstanding combination with a trio of freshman guards — Reed Sheppard, D.J. Wagner and Rob Dillingham — who always push the tempo.
Kentucky isn't just an elite scoring team. It also crashes the offensive glass at one of the highest rates in America. Tre Mitchell reverted to his more natural stretch-four role since the bigs Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso returned from injury. The Wildcats have a ton of size to pair with the quickness of the guards, which makes Kentucky dangerous in a myriad of ways.
Dillingham isn't the top pro prospect of the bunch, but he's the most electrifying college player. The freshman possesses lightning quickness and averages 14.5 points and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 40% from deep. He hit a pair of huge 3s on consecutive possessions against Texas A&M last Saturday and went on a scoring parade against Kansas in the Champions Classic.
Antonio Reeves, the elder statesman guard of the bunch, is one of the nation's most reliable scorers. Reeves always shot the ball well from deep, but he's developed into a well-rounded scorer in his final season at Kentucky. He's shooting a career-best 51% from the floor and 42% from downtown. The emergence of Dillingham makes people forget just how valuable Reeves is.
Georgia vs. Kentucky
Betting Pick & Prediction
The line sits at Kentucky -11.5, and I'm taking the Wildcats in this spot. Kentucky has beaten Mississippi State and Missouri by exactly 13 points in Rupp Arena during league play. I can't see Georgia comfortably playing a game in the 80-point range. The Bulldogs' tempo points to a potential shootout, which shouldn't favor Georgia. Take the Wildcats.
Pick: Kentucky -11.5 (Play to -12)
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