Alabama vs Kentucky 1/7/23 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Kentucky Wildcats and the Alabama Crimson Tide meet in college basketball action from the Coleman Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

The Kentucky Wildcats will look to build on their 74-71 win over LSU in their last game. Oscar Tshiebwe has 16.8 PPG and 13.8 RPG to lead the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding by averaging a double-double per game while Antonio Reeves has 11.1 PPG. Cason Wallace has 12.9 PPG and Jacob Toppin has 11.5 PPG to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Kentucky so far this season. Sahvir Wheeler also has 9.1 PPG with a team-high 6.8 APG to lead the Wildcats In assists as well this season. As a team, Kentucky is averaging 78.6 PPG on 47.3% shooting from the field, 39% from three and 66.5% from the foul line this season.

The Alabama Crimson Tide will try to build on their 84-62 win over Ole Miss last time out. Brandon Miller leads the Tide in scoring with 19.1 PPG along with 8.6 RPG while Mark Sears has 14.6 PPG with 3.8 RPG and 2.7 APG as the only other double-digit scorer for Alabama up to this point in the year. Noah Clowney has 9.8 PPG with a team-high 8.7 RPG to lead the Crimson Tide on the glass while Jahvon Quinerly and Jaden Bradley each have a team-high 3.8 APG as well this season. As a team, Alabama is averaging 83.3 PPG on 44.1% shooting from the field, 34.8% from three and 71% from the foul line this season.

Kentucky is 0-7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall and 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following an ATS loss while the over is 4-0 in their last 4 games overall. Alabama is 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 home games and 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games following an ATS win while the over is 21-7 in their last 28 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600.

I get the case to be made for either side in this game, but I’m going to back Alabama here. The Wildcats just can’t cover a line right now, and while it’s not often that you get Coach Cal’s group in the underdog role, the reality is I think they are where they are for a reason. Alabama’s no joke, especially at home and Kentucky got rung up in their lone true road game. I think Alabama uses this one as a bit of a statement game, so give me the Tide in this one.