Kentucky charges into top 10 in NCAA Championship odds
Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari reacts during the State Farm Champions Classic. (John Jones/Icon Sportswire)
February 21st, 2020
After a sluggish start and a stunning upset early in the season, John Calipari’s team is once again playing its best ball at the right time.
The Kentucky Wildcats may have looked done to many on the national stage, after they suffered a home loss to Evansville in November. But as so often happens with Calipari's Kentucky teams, the group is meshing at the end of the regular season.
The No. 10 Wildcats are +2000 to win the NCAA Tournament. Are they worth a wager at this price?
Odds to win the NCAA National Championship
| Team | 2020 National Championship Odds |
|---|
Gonzaga | +850 |
Kansas | +900 |
Baylor | +1000 |
Duke | +1100 |
Dayton | +1500 |
Louisville | +1500 |
Oregon | +2000 |
Kentucky | +2000 |
Maryland | +2000 |
San Diego State | +2000 |
Kentucky's offense features multiple threats
SEC play has showcased Kentucky’s biggest asset—its variety of scoring threats. At Mississippi State it was EJ Montgomery, at Tennessee it was Johnny Juzang, and at LSU it was Nate Sestina. Sestina scored the 1,000th point of his career in the 79-76 win over the Tigers in Baton Rouge on Tuesday.
Combine those with consistent performances from Nick Richards and Immanuel Quickley, and you’ve got an offense that is difficult to defend. Not to be forgotten is freshman guard Tyrese Maxey, who is averaging 13.9 points per game.
Kentucky’s ninth three, & Nate Sestina’s third in five minutes. Double high ball screen, pick & pop. Intentionally, Calipari feeds the hot hand. Either by rebound, assist, or shot, Sestina was responsible for six of UK’s nine trifectas. @KentuckyRivals @RowlandRIVALS @Trav_Graf pic.twitter.com/MJQPm4KQ97
— David Sisk (@CoachDavidSisk) February 19, 2020
SEC champs… again
With the win over LSU and Auburn’s surprising loss to Georgia on Wednesday night, Kentucky owns a two-game lead in the SEC standings. With five regular-season games left, UK seems poised to win the school’s 49th regular-season conference championship.
However, those five regular-season games include a home-and-home series with Florida, which is right behind Kentucky in the conference standings. Florida is tied with Auburn and LSU in second at 9-4.
10th ranked UK Basketball may be shorthanded hosting Florida Saturday 6 pm. Tonight on his radio show John Calipari said Ashton Hagans and Nick Richards are day to day after end game injuries in win at LSU Tuesday. @wlky @kentuckybasketball pic.twitter.com/so6Mnlug4v
— Fred Cowgill WLKY (@FredCowgillWLKY) February 19, 2020
Kentucky is on a hot streak, with nine wins in its last 10 games, but questions linger. For all the talent Calipari has recruited to Kentucky, he has only produced one national title (2012).
The team looks good heading into the SEC Tournament, but they’re a question mark in the NCAA Tournament.
Calipari’s teams always seem to have trouble gelling under the bright lights of March. Bettors intrigued in the value offered at +2000 might want to take a look at San Diego State, at the same price.
March Madness is just around the corner! Wager on college basketball futures today at BetAmerica.
ADVERTISEMENT
