Gonzaga vs Kentucky Odds, Pick: Rupp Arena Magic

A rare high-profile non-conference matchup takes place on Saturday in the middle of the conference season between two of the best programs in the country.

Gonzaga heads to Rupp Arena to take on Kentucky with both teams desperately needing a win. Gonzaga is in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998, and Kentucky needs a marquee victory to bolster its resume before postseason play.

Both teams rank in the top 25 on KenPom, but it hasn't always been flawless for either side.

Gonzaga has yet to beat a top-60 opponent, and its biggest win this season is a five-point victory over San Francisco. The Bulldogs are just 4-5 vs. top-100 teams, and without a win here, their NCAA tournament hopes will rest entirely on their ability to win the WCC Tournament in March.

Kentucky has had brighter moments this season, but it's also had lower lows. It hasn't been easy for the Wildcats of late, as Kentucky has now lost three of its last five games.

The team doesn't have a win against a top-100 opponent since beating Georgia on January 20. Gonzaga would be the second-highest-rated team the Wildcats have beaten on KenPom this season.

It's Mark Few vs. John Calipari on national television. Get your popcorn ready.

This is the worst version of Gonzaga in a long time. Few made some changes to the roster at the end of last season, and the results have been up and down.

Ryan Nembhard is in from Creighton, and Hunter Sallis is out to Wake Forest. That hasn't been a positive change for the Zags.

The days of Drew Timme are long gone, but the Zags are still able to score inside at the rim often. As a team, Gonzaga shoots 58% from 2-point range, which ranks ninth in the country.

Shooting from outside has been a problem, though, as the Zags make just 34% from 3 as a team and only shoot 32% of their shots from deep.

Neither the offense nor the defense is elite, but the Bulldogs are good enough to beat the lesser opponents they face.

The Zags rank 28th offensively and 35th defensively, but neither of those numbers has been good enough to beat the most talented teams they face.

Enter Kentucky, which may have more talent than any other team in the country. The Wildcats bring multiple pros off the bench and have more offensive firepower than any team Gonzaga will face this season.

Kentucky ranks second in college basketball in 3-point shooting (41%), and it's fifth overall in offensive efficiency. The Wildcats play fast, they don't turn the ball over and they have tons of players who can individually score the basketball from anywhere on the court.

The defense is a massive issue, though. The Cats rank 102nd on defense, and that number is dropping rapidly.

Players have been in and out of the lineup due to injury, which hasn't helped. D.J. Wagner and Tre Mitchell both were inactive for the Cats' last game against Vanderbilt.

Some last-minute lineup changes are never a surprise with this Kentucky team.

No matter who is active for Kentucky, it's hard to see Gonzaga keeping up with the loaded Wildcats offense for 40 minutes.

Rupp Arena will work its magic and Kentucky should pick up a decisive win, along with a cover.

Pick: Kentucky -4

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