Connecticut Huskies vs Kentucky Wildcats

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Kentucky(-2.5)
Game Total Line: (140)
(wagering lines available at 5Dimes)

The Connecticut Huskies, the No.3 seed out of the West, take on the Kentucky Wildcats, the No.4 seed in the East, in this year’s NCAA Men’s Tournament’s Final Four this upcoming Saturday night. Game time from Reliant Stadium in Houston is set for 8:49 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast on CBS.

The main concern for Connecticut coming into this tournament was the fatigue factor from its five-game run in the Big East Tournament the week before. It has been the exact opposite as winning the Big East only seemed to energize this team on its march to the Final Four. The Huskies looked solid in wins over Bucknell and Cincinnati in their first two games, but they took things up a notch in a 74-67 victory over No.2 seed San Diego State in the Sweet 16 as a two-point underdog and a 65-63 win over No.5 seed Arizona as a 3.5-point favorite in the Elite Eight.

Kemba Walker remains the primary reason that Connecticut is playing in this game, but he has had some big-time help from Jeremy Lamb. Walker put up a game-high 36 points in the win over the Aztecs, but Lamb added 24 of his own to help the Huskies advance. Against the Wildcats, Walker led the way with a team-high 20 points, but Lamb’s 19 were instrumental in securing the win.

Connecticut shot 50 percent from three-point range against San Diego State, but struggled with a 5-for-17 performance against Arizona. It was also outrebounded by the Wildcats 39-28, but benefitted from an even poorer shooting performance by its opponent.

The concern with Kentucky coming into the NCAA Tournament was the lack of experience at this level with a team that features three freshmen starters. The Wildcats grew up in a hurry by surviving an early scare against No.13 seed Princeton with a 59-57 win as a 12.5-point favorite and by posting a 71-63 win over No.5 seed West Virginia as a 3.5-point favorite. They proved they are a national title caliber team by knocking-off No.1 seed Ohio State 62-60 in the Sweet 16 as a 5.5-point underdog and by grinding out a 76-69 win over No.2 seed North Carolina as a 1.5-point favorite in the Elite Eight.

Brandon Knight, along with DeAndre Liggens and Josh Harrelson have done most of the damage for Kentucky, especially over the past two games. Liggens and Harrelson combined for 33 points in the win over the Buckeyes and Knight hit the game-winning shot with five seconds left. There were five Wildcats scoring in double-figures against the Tar Heels, but it was Knight’s 22 points that led the way. Kentucky shot 48.2 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from three-point range in the win over North Carolina.

Connecticut is 8-1 against the spread in its last nine games and the total has stayed ‘under’ in four of its last five games. Kentucky is 6-2 ATS in its last eight games and the total has stayed ‘under’ in four of its last five games.

Against the Spread Game Pick

Head-to-head, the Huskies rolled to an 84-67 win in late November as a 4.5-point road favorite and the total went ‘over’ the 142.4 point line. There is no way that things will be that easy for Connecticut this time around, but keep riding the hot hand of Kemba Walker by taking the Huskies and the 2.5 points in this one.
Take the Huskies +2.5 at 5Dimes and get reduced juice every day!!