PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* ESPN Primetime PUNISHER >> Kentucky @ Florida!
(NCAAB) Kentucky vs. Florida,
Point Spread: 2.00 | -105.00 Kentucky (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 2.00 | -105.00 Kentucky (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: No. 8 Kentucky heads to Gainesville 18-4, including 8-1 in SEC play to take on the the 17-5 Florida Gators (ranked 24th), who can tie the Wildcats for first-place in the SEC with a win (Gators are 7-2).
Kentucky: The Wildcats were beaten 79-73 last Saturday at home by Kansas, after having lost earlier in the week at Tennessee. Kentucky then needed OT to get past a mediocre Georgia team 90-81 on Tuesday. The victory allowed the Wildcats to avoid the first three-game losing streak of the coach John Calipari era. However, Coach Cal has to be at least a little worried about his team's recent play. Freshman point guard De'Aaron Fox (15.9-4.4-5.7) sat out the Georgia game with the flu but is expected back here. He joins fellow freshman Monk (22.4) in the backcourt and that dynamic duo is joined on the perimeter by sophomore guard Briscoe (14.4 & 5.2), who is considered a veteran in the Calipari era. The team's best frontcourt player is another freshman (surprise!), the 6-10 Adebayo (13.2 & 6.8). Kentucky averages 91.3 PPG (3rd) on 49.1% shooting (15th).
Florida: The Gators just routed Missouri 93-54 on Thursday, giving them three straight wins in which they've averaged 94.3 PPG and won by a combined 106 points! That comes after Florida had lost back-to-back games, 57-53 at South Carolina and 68-66 at home to Vandy (?). Junior guard Chris Chiozza (5.3-2.8-3.8 assists) came out of nowhere to recording the fourth triple-double in school history with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the Missouri game. On the season, it's been PG Hill (9.4 & 4.9 APG) surrounded by sophomore Allen (13.6) and senior transfer Barry (12.8) on the perimeter plus the 6-8 Robinson (11.8 & 5.7) and the 6-11 Egbunu (7.6 & 6.6) up front. Even with its recent scoring surge (see above), the Gators can't match Kentucky's firepower, as the Gators average 79.3 PPG on the season, a dozen points less than the Wildcats. However, the Gators are a very good defensive team, holding opponents to 65.6 PPG.
The pick: Here's the rub. No opponent has reached its scoring average in regulation against the Gators this season, with only Georgia doing so in Florida's 80-76 overtime victory back on Jan. 14. However, Kentucky has won the last five meetings (by an average of 13.4 points PPG) and off three so-so efforts in a row, won't miss this opportunity to open a two-game lead over teh Gatiors in the SEC race. At this price, make Kentucky a 10* play.
Kentucky: The Wildcats were beaten 79-73 last Saturday at home by Kansas, after having lost earlier in the week at Tennessee. Kentucky then needed OT to get past a mediocre Georgia team 90-81 on Tuesday. The victory allowed the Wildcats to avoid the first three-game losing streak of the coach John Calipari era. However, Coach Cal has to be at least a little worried about his team's recent play. Freshman point guard De'Aaron Fox (15.9-4.4-5.7) sat out the Georgia game with the flu but is expected back here. He joins fellow freshman Monk (22.4) in the backcourt and that dynamic duo is joined on the perimeter by sophomore guard Briscoe (14.4 & 5.2), who is considered a veteran in the Calipari era. The team's best frontcourt player is another freshman (surprise!), the 6-10 Adebayo (13.2 & 6.8). Kentucky averages 91.3 PPG (3rd) on 49.1% shooting (15th).
Florida: The Gators just routed Missouri 93-54 on Thursday, giving them three straight wins in which they've averaged 94.3 PPG and won by a combined 106 points! That comes after Florida had lost back-to-back games, 57-53 at South Carolina and 68-66 at home to Vandy (?). Junior guard Chris Chiozza (5.3-2.8-3.8 assists) came out of nowhere to recording the fourth triple-double in school history with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the Missouri game. On the season, it's been PG Hill (9.4 & 4.9 APG) surrounded by sophomore Allen (13.6) and senior transfer Barry (12.8) on the perimeter plus the 6-8 Robinson (11.8 & 5.7) and the 6-11 Egbunu (7.6 & 6.6) up front. Even with its recent scoring surge (see above), the Gators can't match Kentucky's firepower, as the Gators average 79.3 PPG on the season, a dozen points less than the Wildcats. However, the Gators are a very good defensive team, holding opponents to 65.6 PPG.
The pick: Here's the rub. No opponent has reached its scoring average in regulation against the Gators this season, with only Georgia doing so in Florida's 80-76 overtime victory back on Jan. 14. However, Kentucky has won the last five meetings (by an average of 13.4 points PPG) and off three so-so efforts in a row, won't miss this opportunity to open a two-game lead over teh Gatiors in the SEC race. At this price, make Kentucky a 10* play.
