Florida vs Kentucky 3/5/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The 7^th ranked Kentucky Wildcats will travel to the Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center to take on the Florida Gators this Saturday afternoon in College Basketball action.

The 7^th ranked Kentucky Wildcats improved to 24-6 on the season after defeating the Ole Miss Rebels, 83-72, this past Tuesday. Kentucky was outstanding on the offensive end against Ole Miss and was able to pull away for the victory after taking a 70-56 lead with 6:04 left in regulation. Kentucky shot 60.0% from the field & 42.9% from beyond the arc while allowing Ole Miss to shoot 50.0% from the field & 38.9% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for the Wildcats was Oscar Tshiebwe who had a double-double with 18 points, 15 rebounds, 1 assist, & 2 steals.

On the season, Kentucky is averaging 80.4 ppg on 48.8% shooting from the field. The Wildcats are averaging 6.3 three-pointers per game on 35.8% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, Kentucky has been led by Oscar Tshiebwe (16.9 ppg, 15.3 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.8 spg, 1.5 bpg), TyTy Washington Jr. (12.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.3 spg), Kellan Grady (11.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.2 apg), Keion Brooks Jr. (11.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.1 apg), & Sahvir Wheeler (10.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 7.0 apg, 1.2 spg).

Defensively, Kentucky is holding their opponents to an average of 65.8 ppg on 41.0% shooting from the field. The Wildcats have a rebound margin of 10.4 and a turnover margin of 0.6.

The Florida Gators won their 2^nd straight game and improved to 19-11 on the season after defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores, 82-78, this past Tuesday. Florida trailed by a 76-68 margin with just 3:50 left in regulation, however, the Gators were outstanding offensively down the stretch and was able to secure the victory after Phlandrous Fleming Jr. hit a game-winning three-pointer for the Gators with just :06 seconds left in regulation. Florida shot 51.7% from the field & 47.6% from beyond the arc while allowing Vanderbilt to shoot 56.6% from the field & 51.7% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for the Gators was Phlandrous Fleming Jr. who had 16 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks, & 3 steals.

On the season, Florida is averaging 70.7 ppg on 42.9% shooting from the field. The Gators are averaging 8.3 three-pointers per game on 31.6% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, Florida has been led by Colin Castleton (16.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 2.5 bpg), Tyree Appleby (11.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.3 spg), Phlandrous Fleming Jr. (10.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.4 spg), & Myreon Jones (9.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.2 spg).

Defensviely, Florida is holding their opponents to an average of 65.4 ppg on 43.6% shooting from the field. The Gators have a rebound margin of -1.3 and a turnover margin of 2.3.

The Wildcats are just 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games vs. SEC opponents, however, are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. Florida. The Gators are 3-6 ATS in their last 9 games, however, are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games.

Florida is coming off an impressive win at Vanderbilt, however, this is still a team that has struggled at times offensively this season as the Gators come into this game ranked just 188^th in scoring offense, 247^th in FG%, & 281^st in 3P-FG%. Kentucky is just 5-5 on the road, however, this is a team that has been great on both ends of the court, ranking 10^th in scoring offense, 12^th in FG%, & 79^th in scoring defense and as Kentucky had no trouble taking of Florida by a 78-57 margin in mid-February, I think the Wildcats will win this one by around 10 and cover this mid-range road spread. Good Luck!