Wildcats vs Crimson Tide Betting Picks – College Basketball Predictions
The No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats want to continue their three-game home winning streak when they face the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday in Rupp Arena. It is the biggest matchup in college basketball for the week. Thus, here are our Wildcats vs Crimson Tide betting picks and predictions.
Their most recent victory, a double-digit triumph over the Texas A&M Aggies, gave the Wildcats a five-game winning streak, leading all NCAA teams. If the Cats play Alabama, now ranked #4 in the nation, they will have a chance to enhance their total. Still, the Crimson Tide will be eager to return to the winning track after losing to Ole Miss at home by double digits. This season, they have accomplished that feat twice, with victories of 19 points or more over ranked opponents in North Carolina and Illinois.
Preseason Southeastern Conference favorites Alabama is now 3-1, tied with Kentucky for the conference lead. With top teams Florida and Tennessee already losing, the winner of this matchup will receive a significant lift to their SEC standings early on. According to sports betting prediction experts, the conference favorite Auburn will be without Johni Broome.
Wildcats vs Crimson Tide Betting Odds
- Kentucky Wildcats: -150
- Alabama Crimson Tide: +125
- Point Spread: 2.5
- Over/Under: 179.5
College Basketball Predictions and Analysis for 01/18/2025
On offense, Alabama is second-best in the country regarding rebounding. With 17 games under their belts, Alabama has allowed just one opponent to get a rebound. It occurred in November during their 100-87 defeat against Illinois, when seven points outrebounded them. This was partly because the Tide failed to miss many passes.
The Wildcats’ optimism stems from their recent victories over the nation’s top two offensive rebounding teams, a stretch that lasted more than forty minutes. On both sides, the boards will take precedence. To prevent momentum-shifting baskets, Kentucky must send all five players to the boards, restricting Alabama to a single shot.
The Crimson Tide have allowed more offensive rebounds to their opponents than Kentucky this season, which could be an opportunity for them to capitalize on. Defense without fouling and turnovers are two of Alabama’s worst flaws.
The Crimson Tide have committed nearly 13 turnovers per game this season. There is no higher score in the SEC than that. Their worst performance of the season came against Ole Miss when they committed a season-high 21 turnovers and contributed significantly to a 23-shot disadvantage in field goal attempts. Ball pressure, particularly on drives, resulted in several of them forcing wayward throws that were intercepted.
Kentucky can take Alabama’s possessions if they can match the effort. As a result, their offense will have more scoring chances, while the Crimson Tide will have fewer. Similarly, Alabama commits fouls frequently. Despite averaging 19 fouls per game overall, their SEC play has seen them commit nearly 21 fouls per game. Across four games in the SEC, this resulted in approximately 27 free throws for the opposition.
Kentucky Wildcats vs Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Picks
- Date: January 18, 2025
- Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Bet on Kentucky at -150
This Saturday afternoon matchup in Lexington features two of the best offenses in college basketball, so it should be a high-scoring affair. The Crimson Tide have had mixed results at Rupp Arena, even considering only this season’s games between the two teams.
Are you interested in learning how to be a bookie? If so, one of the best ways to start is by using pay-per-head services. They provide a convenient way to manage your sportsbook operations without the need for extensive startup costs or technical knowledge.
You can access advanced betting software, customer management tools, and reliable odds by partnering with a pay-per-head provider. Also, we suggest understanding what you need to know about using a sportsbook betting software. Thus, you can optimize your bookie business.
