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SportsLine’s model revealed its CBB picks and predictions for Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky
The fifth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats will look to extend their domination over the Vanderbilt Commodores when they meet in SEC action on Wednesday in Lexington, Ky. The Wildcats (17-4, 6-2), who are coming off an 80-62 win at fifth-ranked Kansas on Saturday, have defeated Vanderbilt in 11 consecutive games and are 22-4 under coach John Calipari against the Commodores (11-9, 3-5). Vanderbilt, meanwhile, has dropped three of four but defeated Georgia 85-77 on Saturday. The Commodores are 4-3 on the road this season, while the Wildcats are 13-0 at home.
The game from Rupp Arena is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m. ET. Vanderbilt is averaging 68.6 points per game, while Kentucky averages 82.1. The Wildcats are 14.5-point favorites in the latest Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 141.5. Before making any Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of over $2,400 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky, and just locked in its picks and CBB predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the college basketball odds and betting lines for Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky:
- Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky spread: Kentucky -14.5
- Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky over-under: 141.5 points
- VAN: The Commodores are 10-4-1 against the spread in their last 15 road games
- UK: The Wildcats are 5-2 ATS in their last seven home games
Why Kentucky can cover
Senior guard Kellan Grady is averaging 12 points, two rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. He has made 47.1 percent of his field goals, including a team-best 61 3-pointers and an SEC-best 43.9 percent from 3-point range. He made a career-high-tying seven 3-pointers against High Point on Dec. 31, and Grady also has 12 games with three or more 3-pointers made. He has been red hot of late, averaging 15.7 points, and has 12 made 3-pointers over his last three games.
Junior forward Keion Brooks Jr. was named the SEC Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 19.5 points per game in the Wildcats’ last two wins. He had a career-high 27 points and added eight rebounds in the victory at Kansas. It was the most points scored by a Kentucky player in a road win over a top-five AP team since Fred Cowan had 27 at No. 5 LSU on Feb. 14, 1980. For the season, Brooks is averaging 11.1 PPG on 49.2 percent shooting from the floor, and he’s reached double-digit scoring 10 times.
Why Vanderbilt can cover
The Commodores spread the wealth on offense with seven players averaging 5.5 points per game or better. Junior guard Scotty Pippen Jr. is the SEC’s second-leading scorer at 18.6 points per game, and his 32 points against Kentucky in the first meeting are the most by an SEC player this season. Pippen scored his 1,000th career point against Austin Peay on Dec. 18, becoming just the 50th Commodore to reach that mark. He is coming off back-to-back 20-point efforts, including a 23-point performance against Georgia on Saturday.
Junior forward Jordan Wright is averaging 12.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, two assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He is nearly automatic at the line, connecting on 82.1 percent of his foul shots. Wright has scored in double figures in four of his last five games, including 20 at Georgia on Jan. 15.
How to make Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the point total, projecting 144 combined points. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick where one side hits over 50 percent of the time. You can only get the model’s Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt picks at SportsLine.