No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats at No. 13 Florida Gators
Sunday, 3/4/12, 12:00 PM EST, TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: Kentucky -4
Current Betting Line: Kentucky -4
Opening Total: 141
Current Total: 141
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Kentucky has tied the school record with 29 wins during the regular season and enters this particular contest on a 21-game winning streak. “It means we’re one step closer to the goals we set,” commented Wildcats sophomore forward Terrence Jones. He is one of four starters that averages double figures in scoring, with freshman sensation Anthony Davis leading the way in scoring 14.1 points per game. The program has tallied a 37-12 record on the road when playing as the No. 1 team in the nation. Kentucky is 3-3 ATS as a road favorite of 3.5 to 6 points the last two-plus years.
The Wildcats have suffocated their last 10 opponents on the defensive end, allowing them to score an average of 56.0 points per game. Kentucky also manages to lead all Southeastern Conference teams in scoring 77.8 points per game, while outscoring opponents by an average of 19.4 points a contest. It’s important to note that the team is 8-0 all-time when playing in this particular series as the nation’s top-ranked squad.
Florida is set to honor guard Erving Walker on Senior Day inside the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, FL, and will look to snap a two-game losing streak. The Gators have also failed to cover their last three games, including a 77-67 loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores as 3.5-point road underdogs. Head coach Billy Donovan knows that his program will need to be at its best to pull off the upset. “Obviously they’ve got a terrific team,” he stated this week. “They’re gifted, they’re talented, they have good chemistry.” Florida is 15-9 ATS as an underdog the last two-plus seasons.
The Gators also have four starters that average in double figures, with junior guard Kenny Boynton leading the way in scoring 17.1 points per game. He managed to hit three shots from beyond the arc in the latest loss against the Commodores, giving him 101 on the season. Florida is 9-6 in this series when playing at home under the direction of Donovan, while six of the past nine meetings overall have been decided by single digits. If the game is close down the stretch, the Gators will definitely benefit, leading all SEC teams in shooting 75.5 percent from the charity stripe during conference play.
Bettors will likely back the Wildcats due to their 7-3 ATS mark on Sundays, while the Gators are 2-5 ATS versus conference opponents.
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