NCAA Basketball betting

Bet Alabama Kentucky: Alabama Faces Huge Challenge At Kentucky

The Alabama Crimson Tide are going to have a hard enough time beating the Kentucky Wildcats on the raw merits. What makes Alabama’s task even tougher is this year’s scheduling format.
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Kentucky Wildcats – Saturday, January 21
Sports betting line: No line
Why Alabama Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your best best sportsbook on this game, you have to realize that Alabama is the team far more likely to show that quality which becomes more and more apparent in college basketball as a season progresses: desperation. Yes, Kentucky has the athletes and the credentials and even home-court advantage at Rupp Arena in Lexington, but Alabama has a lot more at stake in this contest, and that’s a prime source of improved performance and increased defensive intensity in particular. If Alabama and Kentucky played a 10-game set or a best-of-seven playoff series, there’s no question that Kentucky would win. In one game, however, Alabama – with its length and athleticism near the rim – could stay in the ring against the wingspan of imposing Kentucky post players such as Antonio Davis.
Alabama’s Tony Mitchell has explosive vertical leaping ability, enabling him to play far bigger than his 6-6 frame. JaMychal Green is 6-8 but extremely long and agile, giving him a chance to match up against Kentucky’s big men within six feet of the basket. Alabama has had a tough time shooting the three this season, but if the Tide can find the touch on just one afternoon in Lexington, they can indeed pull through and win this game. It’s attainable for the Tide and coach Anthony Grant.
Why Kentucky Will Win
The college basketball betting experts who are focusing on the Southeastern Conference can make some very particular observations about this game not just because of the X and O considerations involved, but because of the timing of this game within the SEC’s regular-season schedule. This is a 12:05 p.m. Eastern time tip-off on Saturday, an early game for Alabama on the road in Lexington, Kentucky. The game also follows Alabama’s Thursday night home game against a solid Vanderbilt squad. Most of the time, the SEC’s midweek game is on Wednesdays. To accommodate national television, however, some games are played on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
When teams play on a Tuesday, they get extra rest in advance of the normal Saturday game. When they play on Thursday, however, they are pinched in terms of rest. For Alabama to play on a Saturday after a Thursday is challenging enough, but since the Crimson Tide are playing a very early afternoon game (as early in the afternoon as possible), they’re going to have a very short turnaround which includes a flight from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to Lexington. They’re likely to have very little fuel in the tank by the time the middle of the second half arrives. Alabama can hang in for 30 minutes, but probably not for 40.
Who Will Win
It’s really simple – Alabama’s brutal schedule will not give the Tide the ability to physically recover in time for this game. Vanderbilt, win or lose, will take a lot out of Bama. The Tide won’t be able to keep pace with Kentucky, especially not on the road.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Kentucky