The Kentucky Wildcats are a perfect 7-0 SU in their last seven games against the Vanderbilt Commodores, but the Commodores hold a 5-2 ATS edge during that losing streak. Kentucky will need a blowout to buck this trend as a big road favorite on Tuesday night.
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Both the Sportsbook line and total have moved very slightly by a half-point each to Kentucky -12 and to 144.5 points. The Wildcats have been a double-digit favorite 11 times in 2019-20 and are just 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 games as one. This stretch includes a 71-62 win at home against Vanderbilt last month when they failed to cover as a 20.5-point favorite.
Kentucky News & Notes
Since losing back-to-back games to the Utah Utes and Ohio State Buckeyes back in late December, Kentucky has been playing some solid basketball with a 10-2 SU and 7-5 ATS record over its last 12 games. Four players on the Wildcats are averaging over 12 points per game this season, led by Immanuel Quickley (14.8 points per game) and Nick Richards (14.6 ppg).
Freshman Tyrese Maxey is the type of player who could really heat up down the stretch and make a big impact for the Wildcats in the postseason. Maxey is averaging 13.4 points and three assists per game and he has shown flashes of brilliance in some big performances, including wins over No. 1 Michigan State and No. 3 Louisville. Kentucky is 4-2 ATS on the road this season.
Vanderbilt News & Notes
Despite a 1-10 SU nosedive since the start of January, Vanderbilt has picked things up on the ATS side over its last few games with a 4-0 ATS record since January 29. The Commodores opened the season with an 8-4 SU and 6-5-1 ATS record, but the combination of a tougher schedule in conference play and the loss of leading scorer Aaron Nesmith due to injury has hit Vanderbilt hard over the last month and a half.
Nesmith was averaging 23 points per game before being lost for the season with a foot injury. Junior guard Saben Lee is averaging 16.9 points per game and has bumped his production up to 19 ppg in Vanderbilt’s last eight games, but the team doesn’t have much scoring depth behind him. Lee’s 21 points helped the Commodores cover the spread against Kentucky earlier this season.
Betting Pick: Vanderbilt +12
Kentucky has been playing well of late, but only one of its last eight wins has been by more than 10 points. At home, the Commodores should continue their trend of losing to the Wildcats outright but scratching out a cover ATS.