Florida Gators vs Kentucky Wildcats Prediction, 2/27/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Florida Gators vs Kentucky Wildcats

Date: Saturday, February 27, 2021

Location: Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY

TV: CBS

Odds/Point Spread: Florida (+1.5)

The Kentucky Wildcats (8-13) host the Florida Gators (12-6) at Rupp Arena on Saturday. Florida opens this game as 1.5-point dogs. The total has been set at 138.5.

Florida heads into this matchup with a win-loss mark of 12-6 for the year. The Gators are shooting 35.5% on shots beyond the perimeter (126 of 355) and 75.1% from the charity stripe. They currently have an average of 76.2 pts per game (72nd in the country) while connecting on 46.5% from the field. They turn the ball over 14.4 times per game and as a unit they commit 19.6 fouls per game. As a unit, Florida is grabbing 36.3 rebounds per contest and has accumulated 221 dimes for the season, which has them ranked 252nd in the country in terms of passing the ball. Defensively, the Gators have forced 15.1 turnovers on a nightly basis while drawing 18.3 fouls. They are 124th in D-1 in allowing assists to the opposition with 227 conceded for the year. The Gators defense is allowing an opponent FG percentage of 42.0% (443 of 1,056) and they concede 34.9 rebounds per contest as a basketball team. They are surrendering 31.2% on shots from distance and they are ranked 186th in college basketball in points per game from their opponents (70.1).

The Florida Gators played the Auburn Tigers and went home with a win by a final score of 74-57 in their last contest. Florida finished having earned a 44.4% FG percentage (28 of 63) and buried 7 out of their 20 shots from beyond the arc. At the free throw line, the Gators converted 11 of their 16 tries for a percentage of 68.8%. In the matter of grabbing rebounds, they collected a total of 37 with 11 of them being of the offensive variety. They also doled out 12 assists for this game in addition to forcing the other team into 21 turnovers and having 11 steals. In reference to defense, Florida let their opponent shoot 35.3% from the field on 18 of 51 shooting. Auburn doled out 13 assists and had 6 steals in this game. On top of that, Auburn had 32 rebounds (8 offensive, 24 defensive) and had 6 blocks. Auburn finished the contest at 63.6% from the charity stripe by knocking down 14 of 22 attempts. They made 7 out of their 31 attempts from distance.

Tre Mann is a guy who was a major factor in this game. He finished with 19 points on 8 of 14 shooting. He played 32 minutes and snagged 13 boards. Mann finished shooting 57.1% from the floor and also distributed 3 dimes. One more player that had an impact in this matchup for the Gators was Tyree Appleby. He totaled 4 rebounds in 22 minutes played on the night. He went 28.6% from the floor in the matchup by going 2-of-7 (11 points). Overall, Appleby had 2 assists.

Kentucky has a win-loss mark of 8-13 so far this season. When it comes to offense, the Wildcats are shooting 41.5% from the field, which has them ranked 301st in the nation. Kentucky has totaled 1,467 points for the campaign (69.9 per contest) and they grab 39.1 rebounds per game. They are getting an assist 12.1 times per contest (257th in Division 1) and they turn it over 14.5 times per contest. The Wildcats are responsible for committing 18.4 personal fouls every game and they hit 73.3% from the charity stripe. The Wildcats on the defensive side of the court are 190th in the country in PPG surrendered with 70.2. They are forcing 12.0 TO's every game and have allowed teams to shoot 40.5% from the floor (42nd in college hoops). The Kentucky defense concedes 30.7% on shots from beyond the perimeter (142 of 463) and opponents are knocking down 73.5% of their shots from the charity stripe. They concede 11.9 dimes and 35.9 boards per contest, which is 101st and 226th in the nation.

The last time they took the court, the Kentucky Wildcats got the victory with a final of 70-55 when they faced the Tennessee Volunteers. The Wildcats were able to corral 30 defensive boards and 9 offensive boards for a total of 39 in the game. They turned it over 11 times, while earning 7 steals in this contest. The Volunteers committed 14 fouls for this game which took the Wildcats to the free throw line for 20 shots. They were able to convert 17 of them for a rate of 85.0%. When discussing 3-point shots, Kentucky made 7 of their 14 tries (50.0%). In all, the Wildcats ended up going 23 for 57 from the field which had them at 40.4%. The Wildcats allowed the Volunteers to make 18 out of their 56 tries from the floor which gave them a rate of 32.1% in this contest. They finished shooting 27.3% from distance by going 6 out of 22 and walked away from this one shooting 13 of 16 from the free throw line (81.3%). In the matter of rebounding, Kentucky allowed Tennessee to snag 27 in total (5 on the offensive glass).

Isaiah Jackson was important for the Wildcats for the game. He made 4 out of 10 for the matchup for a rate of 40.0%, and had 7 rebounds. Jackson earned 16 points in his 21 minutes on the court, but left the arena with no assists. Someone else who was a determining factor for Kentucky was Davion Mintz. He came away with 2 assists in his 34 minutes on the court, and he put in 5 out of 10 from the floor. Mintz finished going 50.0% from the field in addition to collecting 15 points and 4 rebounds.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Florida (+1.5)

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