NCAAB Lines: Kentucky Looks To Keep Winning Streak vs. Tennessee

When the end of the season is approaching and a team is still unbeaten, a funny thing tends to happen. You get fans that want to see their team go perfect the rest of the way, while the rest wouldn’t mind getting that first loss out of the way, so that it doesn’t come during the tournament when the games really matter. While we wait for the tip off, here’s a quick game preview and NCAAB lines analysis. Venue: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Time: 7:00 PM ET TV: ESPN/ WATCH ESPN Spread: Kentucky -14

Game Preview and NCAAB Betting Analysis

Kentucky (25-0, 12-0) has reached a point where they have a comfortable lead atop the SEC, and don’t seem as though the #1 seed is going to be pulled away from them. If you asked the players and the coaching staff their feelings about going unbeaten, they would likely tell you that their biggest concern is finishing up the season as champions. Certainly, when you look at the remainder of the schedule for the Wildcats, there is really no opponent there that should scare them. That said, you can bet that every team that is set to play them is going to try and bring their A-Game in order to halt the win streak. LSU came close a few days ago, and Tennessee are the next up to try and spring the big upset.

  On paper, the Tennessee Volunteers (14-10, 6-6) do not look like a team capable of taking down the top dogs. They have lost 5 of their last 7 games, and are only averaging 64.2 PPG on the season. The Wildcats are coming into this one sporting the 2nd best points against average in the nation, which makes them look more than capable of handling the anemic offense of the Volunteers. Senior Josh Richardson is leading the way in scoring for Tennessee with 16 PPG, but he has been blowing hot and cold in recent weeks. He had great outings against Vanderbilt and Mississippi State, scoring 27 and 30 points, respectively, but he had a 2 point outing against Georgia wedged in between those. As he goes, so does this Volunteers team, so he will need to be on the top of his game versus Kentucky on Tuesday night.

Key Betting Trends

• The Wildcats are 1-5 ATS and 6-0 SU in their last six games • The Volunteers are 2-3 ATS/SU in their last five games • The Wildcats are 2-4 ATS in their last six road games and 5-0 SU in their last five road games • The Volunteers are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 home games and 2-4 SU in their last six home games • The Wildcats are 7-1 SU in their last eight games against Tennessee • The total has gone UNDER in eight of the last 11 games between Kentucky and Tennessee • The total has gone UNDER in 17 of the last 23 Tennessee home games

Consider This Before Placing Your Bet

Even those who have doubted Kentucky at various points in the season are starting to agree that they deserve to be the unanimous number one in the nation. Even on their off nights, they still seem to be able to find ways to get the win. I just don’t see them stumbling here, and expect them to run out comfortable double digit winners versus Tennessee on Tuesday night.