Kentucky vs Utah College Basketball Betting Tips 12/18/2019

Game: Kentucky Wildcats vs Utah Utes

Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV

TV: ESPN2

Odds/Point Spread: Utah +4.5

Total/Over-Under: 134

The Kentucky Wildcats head to T-Mobile Arena to take on the Utah Utes on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. The opening line for this game has Kentucky as 4.5 point favorites.

Kentucky heads into this matchup with a mark of 8-1. They currently have a point differential of 17.2 as they are averaging 76.4 points per contest while giving up 59.2 per game. Utah has an overall record of 8-2. They are averaging 83.0 points per game and surrendering 68.6, good for a point differential of 14.4.

Valuable Kentucky Wildcats Betting Trends

The Kentucky Wildcats are 4-5-0 against the spread this season

The Kentucky Wildcats are 3-6-0 against the over/under this year

Important Utah Utes Betting Trends

The Utah Utes are 6-4-0 against the spread this season

The Utah Utes are 6-4-0 against the over/under this year

Key Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

11/28/19 F Nate Sestina Wrist is out indefinitely
11/07/19 G Dontaie Allen Knee is out indefinitely

Key Utah Utes Injuries

12/16/19 G Rylan Jones Ribs is questionable

Player Spotlight

Ashton Hagans comes into this game averaging 13.7 points per contest while playing 30.7 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.3 rebounds per contest and distributes 6.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is 88%. Nick Richards averages 13.6 points per contest in 30.7 minutes per game. He averages 0.4 assists per game and 8.0 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 69% for the season while his free throw percentage is 69%.

Player Spotlight

Timmy Allen scores 20.6 points per contest while playing 32.8 minutes per game. He hauls in 7.4 rebounds per contest and has 2.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Both Gach averages 11.7 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 29.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.5 rebounds per game and has 3.6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

Kentucky averages 76.4 points per contest, which is 93rd in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 17.2 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 50th. From 3-point territory they shoot 29%, which is good for 298th in the nation. They average 40.0 boards per contest and 15.4 assists per game, which ranks them 48th and 62nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 239th with 12.9 per game. The Wildcats allow 59.2 points per contest, which is 22nd in the NCAA. They also surrender a 36% shooting percentage and a 29% average from 3-point range, ranking them 13th and 51st in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 30.8 rebounds a game which ranks 29th, and they allow 10.1 assists per game which puts them in 46th place in the country. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 123rd in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 14th in the nation with 83.0 points per contest this season. They are 13th in the country in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 14.4. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 142nd in the NCAA. They are 30th in D-1 in rebounding with 41.0 boards per contest and 34th in assists per game with 16.3. The Utes are 215th in turnovers per contest with 13.2. The Utes give up 68.6 points per game, which ranks them 183rd in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 40% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 106th and 218th in those defensive statistics. They rank 156th with 12.1 dimes allowed per game and 86th with 32.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Utes are 91st in the nation in forcing turnovers with 12.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 65th in the nation in offensive rating with 108.3. In terms of pace they are 166th in the country with 70.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 133rd. As a team they are 57th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 27% of their shots, ranking 340th in Division 1. Kentucky is 229th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.1 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 235th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16 times per 100 possessions. The Utes have an offensive rating of 113.9, which is ranked 16th. They are 109th in D-1 in pace with 72 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 57% is 20th. As a unit they are 10th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 145th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Kentucky -4.5

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