The Missouri Tigers take on the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington, Kentucky. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Kentucky is favored by 12.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -850. The total is set at 151.5 points.
Here’s my Missouri vs. Kentucky prediction and college basketball picks for January 7, 2026.
Missouri vs Kentucky Prediction
My Pick: Missouri +12.5 (Play to +10.5)
My Missouri vs Kentucky best bet is on the Tigers to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Missouri vs. Kentucky Odds, Spread
| Missouri Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+12.5 -110 | 151.5 -110 / -110 | +575 |
| Kentucky Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-12.5 -110 | 151.5 -110 / -110 | -850 |
- Missouri vs Kentucky spread: Kentucky -12.5
- Missouri vs Kentucky over/under: 151.5 points
- Missouri vs Kentucky moneyline: Missouri +575, Kentucky -850
Missouri vs Kentucky NCAAB Betting Preview
Missouri Basketball
The Tigers come into this matchup 11-3 after their two-point win against Florida. What's even better news for them is that they're getting healthier.
Jayden Stone returned to the starting lineup against Florida after missing over a month due to injury. In that return, he tallied nine points and six rebounds in 28 minutes of play. Trent Pierce made his season debut against the Gators as well, recording 10 points in 19 minutes off the bench.
Missouri has the 13th-best effective field goal percentage in the country and the 18th-best 2-point percentage (60.1%).
What makes Missouri a tough out is its ability to rebound the basketball, especially on the offensive end. The Tigers have an offensive rebounding percentage of 38.2%, which ranks 22nd nationally.
If it sets the tone with its physicality in Lexington on Wednesday, Missouri has a chance for an upset.
Kentucky Basketball
This is quickly turning into the season from hell for Kentucky, which has fallen to 9-5 after its non-competitive 15-point loss to Alabama.
I'll give Kentucky some benefit of the doubt because it's been dealing with injuries, but it needs to get off to better starts. Even in their wins against Indiana and St. John's, the Wildcats had to overcome first-half double-digit deficits.
Despite five losses and dealing with being down early in games, KenPom still has Kentucky 24th overall, with the 37th-best offense and the 27th-best defense.
The X-factor for Kentucky is Otega Oweh. I know, great analysis by me, picking the Preseason SEC Player of the Year as my X-factor, but hear me out.
Oweh scored 22 points against Alabama, and in the other two games this season in which he scored 20 or more points, he followed up both performances with 10 points while shooting less than 30% from the field.
Oweh needs to carry himself as the conference's Player of the Year in this matchup and be aggressive early against a defense that's prone to giving up good looks.
Also, Kentucky is getting healthier.
Jaland Lowe looked the best he has all season against Alabama, scoring 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting. That's a great sign for Kentucky, especially considering that it's going up against a Missouri defense that's ranked 121st in KenPom.
Jayden Quaintance played season-high 24 minutes last game off the bench, and he has a chance to be tone setter with his rebounding and rim protection.
Missouri vs. Kentucky Betting Analysis
I've thought long and hard about this game because I see a way Missouri can walk into Rupp Arena and set the tone early with its physicality in the paint and on the glass.
But on the flip side, I can see Kentucky coming out with a statement type of performance, as the most expensive roster in college basketball shows why it was worth all of that money.
To be honest, this game falls somewhere in the middle.
I assume Quaintance still has a minutes restriction, so I think Mark Mitchell and the rest of the Tigers will aggressively drive to the rim, something Missouri has been good at all season.
Kentucky should win, but not by a wide margin.
My Pick: Missouri +12.5 (Play to +10.5)
