Alabama Crimson Tide vs Kentucky Wildcats NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/18/25
Betting on today’s Crimson Tide and Wildcats game? Catch the action at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY, as the Wildcats hosts this showdown at 12:00 ET on ESPN. The over/under for this game is set at 178.5 points, and Kentucky is favored by -2.5 vs. Alabama in a Southeastern conference matchup.
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE VS KENTUCKY WILDCATS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Kentucky Wildcats -2.5
This game will be played at Rupp Arena at 12:00 ET on Saturday, January 18th.
WHY BET THE KENTUCKY WILDCATS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-70 in favor of the Wildcats.
- Not only will Kentucky pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 178.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 148 points.
Will the Alabama Defense Show Up on the Road?
Alabama Crimson Tide Recent Game/Games
Alabama dropped to 14-3 on the season after a 74-64 home loss to Ole Miss on Tuesday. The Crimson Tide, who were -12 favorites, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread.
Alabama led 36-32 at halftime but struggled in the second half, scoring just 28 points while allowing 42. The total points for the game were 138, falling short of the 162.5 O/U line.
In their last game, Alabama’s offense put up 64 points, shooting 42.6% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 5 of 20 attempts for a 25% success rate, resulting in an effective field goal percentage of 46.8%. At the free-throw line, they connected on 19 of 26 attempts, good for 73.1%.
Malik Dia was a force inside, scoring 23 points and grabbing 19 rebounds, shooting 52.4% from the field despite missing all 3 of his three-point attempts. Aden Holloway was efficient, hitting 5 of 6 shots, including 1 of 2 from deep, finishing with 15 points and 6 rebounds.
Alabama’s defense gave up 74 points, with the opposing team shooting 42% from the field. They allowed 15 two-point baskets on 27 attempts, a 55% shooting rate.
From beyond the arc, Alabama’s defense held the other team to 5 made threes on 20 attempts, a 25% success rate. They also sent them to the free-throw line 26 times, where they made 19, shooting 73%. Alabama gave up 4 offensive rebounds.
Can Kentucky Pull Off a Home Win?
Kentucky improved to 14-3 with an 81-69 win over Texas A&M on Tuesday. The Wildcats were -7 favorites and covered the spread in the home victory.
Leading 35-32 at halftime, Kentucky scored 46 points in the 2nd half while holding Texas A&M to 37. The game’s total points of 150 fell short of the 156.5 O/U line.
Kentucky put up 81 points in their last game, shooting 46.2% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range, hitting 9 of 27 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 53.8%, with a strong 60% shooting inside the arc, connecting on 15 of 25 two-point attempts.
At the free-throw line, the Wildcats shot 77.4%, making 24 of 31 attempts, and they grabbed 12 offensive rebounds. Jaxson Robinson led the way with 22 points and 8 rebounds, hitting 5 threes, while Zhuric Phelps added 21 points, despite shooting just 2 of 9 from deep.
Despite Kentucky’s defensive efforts, they gave up 69 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 46% from the field. The Wildcats struggled to contain shots inside, with the opposing team hitting 60% of their two-point attempts, going 15/25.
From beyond the arc, Kentucky’s defense held their opponent to 33% shooting, with 9 made threes on 27 attempts. The Wildcats also sent the other team to the free-throw line 31 times, where they converted 24 free throws at a 77% rate. Kentucky allowed 12 offensive rebounds in the game.