Kentucky at UCLA College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/23/2017

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Smoothie King Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Kentucky Wildcats travel to Smoothie King Center to play the UCLA Bruins on Saturday, December 23, 2017.

Kentucky heads into this matchup with a mark of 9-1. They currently have a point differential of 12.1 as they are averaging 81.3 points per contest while giving up 69.2 per game. UCLA has an overall mark of 8-3. They are averaging 82.8 points per contest and giving up 76.2, which is a point differential of 6.6.

Valuable Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 5-5 against the spread this season

The Kentucky Wildcats are 5-5 against the over/under this year

Important UCLA Bruins Betting Trends

The UCLA Bruins are 3-8 against the spread this season

The UCLA Bruins are 6-5 against the over/under this year

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

11/22/17 F Jarred Vanderbilt Foot is out indefinitely
11/06/17 G Jemarl Baker Knee is out indefinitely

Key UCLA Bruins Injuries

12/04/17 G LiAngelo Ball Left Team is out for season
11/08/17 F Cody Riley Suspension is out indefinitely
11/08/17 F Jalen Hill Suspension is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Kevin Knox averages 15.8 points per game while playing 34.8 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.1 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 71%. Hamidou Diallo averages 15.2 points per game in 28.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.3 assists per contest and 4.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 67%.

Player Spotlight

Aaron Holiday averages 17.4 points per game while playing 36 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.5 rebounds per game and has 5.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 78%. Thomas Welsh averages 13.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 10.6 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

Kentucky averages 81.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 63rd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 12.1 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a team, which has them ranked 23rd. Behind the arc they shoot 37%, which is good for 108th in the country. They average 40.4 rebounds per game and 16.5 assists per game, which ranks them 35th and 54th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 70th with 15.1 per game. The Wildcats allow 69.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 117th in Division 1. They also allow a 40% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 46th and 75th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.6 rebounds a game which ranks 79th and they give up 13.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 210th place in college basketball. They force 14.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 173rd in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

UCLA is 47th in the country with 82.8 points per game this year. They are 98th in D-1 in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 6.6. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 191st in college basketball. They are 23rd in the nation in rebounding with 41.3 boards per game, and 82nd in assists per contest with 15.7. The Bruins are 191st in turnovers per game with 13.5. The Bruins surrender 76.2 points per contest, which ranks them 258th in the country. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 118th and 240th in those defensive statistics. They rank 177th with 13.2 assists allowed per contest and 234th with 36.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bruins are 50th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 12.0 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 76th in the nation in offensive rating with 111.4, and their defensive rating of 94.8 is ranked 79th. In terms of pace they are 88th in the country with 73 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 76th. As a team they are 76th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 24% of their shots, ranking 349th in Division 1. Kentucky is 102nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 59th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

UCLA is 256th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 154th in Division 1. The Bruins are 159th in the nation in defensive rating with 99.2, and their offensive rating of 107.8 is ranked 124th. They are 39th in D-1 in pace with 75.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 142nd. As a unit they are 153rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 273rd in the country.

Who will win tonight's Kentucky/UCLA college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take UCLA

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