Kentucky vs High Point 12/31/21 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds
High Point Panthers (6-7) vs. Kentucky Wildcats (10-2)
December 31, 2021 12:00 pm EDT
The Line: Kentucky Wildcats -25.5 / High Point Panthers +25.5; Over/Under: +136
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The High Point Panthers and Kentucky Wildcats meet Friday in college basketball action at the Rupp Arena. The High Point Panthers look to get back to a .500 record. The Kentucky Wildcats look for a win after winning 10 of their last 11 games.
The High Point Panthers are averaging 71.8 points on 43.8 percent shooting and allowing 69.4 points on 41.2 percent shooting. John-Michael Wright is averaging 20 points and 4.2 assists, while Zack Austin is averaging 14 points and 7.5 rebounds. Jaden House is the third double-digit scorer and Bryant Randleman is dishing 2.7 assists. The High Point Panthers are shooting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc and 61.4 percent from the free throw line. The High Point Panthers are allowing 31.6 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 34.2 rebounds per game.
The Kentucky Wildcats are averaging 83.3 points on 48.9 percent shooting and allowing 61.5 points on 38.5 percent shooting. Oscar Tshiebwe is averaging 15.8 points and 15.8 rebounds, while TyTy Washington Jr. is averaging 13.9 points and 4.3 rebounds. Keion Brooks Jr. is the third double-digit scorer and Sahvir Wheeler is dishing 7.8 assists. The Kentucky Wildcats are shooting 33 percent from beyond the arc and 75.1 percent from the free throw line. The Kentucky Wildcats are allowing 26.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 40.9 rebounds per game.
The Panthers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win and 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall. The Wildcats are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 Friday games and 2-11 ATS in their last 13 games following a ATS win. The under is 8-3-1 in Panthers last 12 Friday games. The under is 5-2 in Wildcats last 7 overall.
The Kentucky Wildcats are obviously the better team here, and they could blow the doors off if they really wanted to, but I do question their motivation given the opponent and the early start. Also, the High Point Panthers aren’t exactly pushovers, as they’re decent defensively, and they have hung around with Northwestern and Michigan State on the road. High Point won’t be intimated given its battle tested schedule. High Point has also had covering success this season. Give me the points.
