Tennessee-Kentucky Highlights Wild College Basketball Saturday Betting
One of the top college basketball games of the year takes place on Saturday when the Tennessee Volunteers head to Kentucky to take on Coach Calipari’s Wildcats. Check out analysis and free pick for Vols-Wildcats along with picks for all of the other great NCAAB Saturday betting action!
[Saturday, Feb 16 ]
The Vols average 85.4 points per while shooting 51.5% from the field. They shoot 36.8% from three. Although Tennessee’s strength is on the offensive side of the court, Rick Barnes’ team doesn’t sacrifice defense to put the ball into the basket. The Vols hold opponents to 39.1% from the field and 33.3% from three.
Like Tennessee, Kentucky’s stepped it up as well on both sides of the court. The Wildcats average 78.4 points while shooting 47.5% from the field and 35.3% from three. The Wildcats have improved on the other end so that opponents only average 65.5 points per.
Both teams have played well against the spread. The Vols are 4-2 ATS in their last 6, and 5-1 ATS in away games. Kentucky is a fantastic 8-2 ATS in their last 10. With both teams playing well against the spread, the team that covers will have the slightest edge.
That edge in this game is home court advantage. The Wildcats are only 7-7 ATS at home, but they often face ridiculous spreads like being favored by 8.5 versus LSU in their last game.
On Saturday, unless key players show up on the injury report, Kentucky shouldn’t offer more than -1 to -2 points if they even go off the underdog in this. The Wildcats are poised to knock the Volunteers down a peg. Kentucky wins straight up and covers against the spread.
NCAAB Saturday Betting Free Pick: Kentucky +4.0
However, Michigan dominated the Terps on Feb. 24, beating them 85-61. The 22-3 record Wolverines still dream of a 1-seed. They can’t afford to blow it against a team like Maryland straight up if they do wish for the coveted 1.
So, Michigan should definitely win this straight up. They should also cover because even though they’re only 7-8 ATS at home, they’re 3-1 ATS in their last 4. The Wolverines take it against the spread.
NCAAB Saturday Betting Free Pick: Michigan ATS
The Wildcats allow 59.5 points per. In the last match between these two, K-State upset the Cyclones 58-57 straight up as a +8.5 dog. If anything, Kansas State should force Iowa State to play their style even more because the Wildcats are at home on Saturday.
This just isn’t a good matchup for the Cyclones. K-State covers.
NCAAB Saturday Betting Free Pick: Kansas State -2.5
The last time they faced NC State, they dominated them 96-85. A similar score won’t lead to a Blue Devils cover, though, while the Wolfpack might have turned the corner with the 79-76 road win over Pittsburgh and the 73-58 home win against Syracuse.
Duke will win straight up but save for the home victory against Virginia, the Blue Devils haven’t been favored by less than 17 points in their last 4 games. A lot of that has to do with the Blue Devils, like Golden State in the NBA, being consistently over bet.
Duke wins straight up. The Wolfpack wins against the spread.
NCAAB Saturday Betting Free Pick: NC State +17.0
[Sunday, Feb. 17]
NCAAB Saturday Betting Free Pick: Michigan State ATS
NCAAB Saturday Betting Free Pick: Villanova ATS
[Saturday, Feb 16 ]
#1 Tennessee Volunteers -4.0 at #5 Kentucky Wildcats (8:00pm ET)
The Volunteers haven’t lost since Nov. 23 when the Kansas Jayhawks beat them 87-81 on a neutral court, but they have yet to play Kentucky, which is what makes this game so intriguing.The Vols average 85.4 points per while shooting 51.5% from the field. They shoot 36.8% from three. Although Tennessee’s strength is on the offensive side of the court, Rick Barnes’ team doesn’t sacrifice defense to put the ball into the basket. The Vols hold opponents to 39.1% from the field and 33.3% from three.
Like Tennessee, Kentucky’s stepped it up as well on both sides of the court. The Wildcats average 78.4 points while shooting 47.5% from the field and 35.3% from three. The Wildcats have improved on the other end so that opponents only average 65.5 points per.
Both teams have played well against the spread. The Vols are 4-2 ATS in their last 6, and 5-1 ATS in away games. Kentucky is a fantastic 8-2 ATS in their last 10. With both teams playing well against the spread, the team that covers will have the slightest edge.
That edge in this game is home court advantage. The Wildcats are only 7-7 ATS at home, but they often face ridiculous spreads like being favored by 8.5 versus LSU in their last game.
On Saturday, unless key players show up on the injury report, Kentucky shouldn’t offer more than -1 to -2 points if they even go off the underdog in this. The Wildcats are poised to knock the Volunteers down a peg. Kentucky wins straight up and covers against the spread.
NCAAB Saturday Betting Free Pick: Kentucky +4.0
#25 Maryland Terrapins at #7 Michigan Wolverines (12:00pm ET)
The Terrapins might be peaking at the right time. After a couple of losses, Maryland has bounced back with two wins straight up and against the spread: 60-45 at Nebraska, and 70-56 versus Purdue.However, Michigan dominated the Terps on Feb. 24, beating them 85-61. The 22-3 record Wolverines still dream of a 1-seed. They can’t afford to blow it against a team like Maryland straight up if they do wish for the coveted 1.
So, Michigan should definitely win this straight up. They should also cover because even though they’re only 7-8 ATS at home, they’re 3-1 ATS in their last 4. The Wolverines take it against the spread.
NCAAB Saturday Betting Free Pick: Michigan ATS
#22 Iowa State Cyclones at #18 Kansas State Wildcats -2.5 (4:00pm ET)
Iowa State is 0-3 ATS in their last 3, but the real reason to like K-State to win and cover has to do with playing styles. The Cyclones prefer to run up and down the court. That style doesn’t work versus teams like Kansas State.The Wildcats allow 59.5 points per. In the last match between these two, K-State upset the Cyclones 58-57 straight up as a +8.5 dog. If anything, Kansas State should force Iowa State to play their style even more because the Wildcats are at home on Saturday.
This just isn’t a good matchup for the Cyclones. K-State covers.
NCAAB Saturday Betting Free Pick: Kansas State -2.5
NC State Wolfpack at #2 Duke Blue Devils -17.0 (6:00pm ET)
The Blue Devils rallied down 23 points on Feb. 12 to stun the Louisville Cardinals 71-69. Duke didn’t cover the spread, but they showed how amazingly talented they are. The Blue Devils had been on a 4-0 ATS streak before the Louisville game.The last time they faced NC State, they dominated them 96-85. A similar score won’t lead to a Blue Devils cover, though, while the Wolfpack might have turned the corner with the 79-76 road win over Pittsburgh and the 73-58 home win against Syracuse.
Duke will win straight up but save for the home victory against Virginia, the Blue Devils haven’t been favored by less than 17 points in their last 4 games. A lot of that has to do with the Blue Devils, like Golden State in the NBA, being consistently over bet.
Duke wins straight up. The Wolfpack wins against the spread.
NCAAB Saturday Betting Free Pick: NC State +17.0
[Sunday, Feb. 17]
Ohio State Buckeyes at #12 Michigan State Spartans (1:00pm ET)
On the surface, this should be a competitive affair with both teams stepping it up in recent weeks. The Spartans have an awesome record against the spread at home, though, going 9-3 ATS this season. MSU’s also ratcheted up the defense, holding Minnesota to 55 points and Wisconsin to 59 in their last two games, both wins. Not only that, but Michigan State beat Ohio State 86-77 on the road on Jan. 5. The Spartans will win and cover.NCAAB Saturday Betting Free Pick: Michigan State ATS
#13 Villanova Wildcats at St. John’s Red Storm (5:00pm ET)
Defending champions Villanova has been on fire against the spread and straight up. The Wildcats are 9-1 SU and 8-2 ATS in their last 10. Nova’s peaking right now while St. John’s has been up and down in recent games. Nova’s also 6-2 ATS in away games this season. The Wildcats cover.NCAAB Saturday Betting Free Pick: Villanova ATS
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