Missouri at Kentucky odds, picks and predictions
The Missouri Tigers (8-6, 0-1 SEC) and Kentucky Wildcats (11-2, 1-0) meet Tuesday at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Missouri vs. Kentucky odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The Tigers limp into Tuesday's game with losses in 4 of the past 5 games, including a 75-68 setback as 5.5-point favorites against the Georgia Bulldogs at home on Saturday. The Tigers are also 1-3 against the spread (ATS) in the past 4 outings overall.
The Wildcats polished off the Florida Gators 87-85 in Gainesville on Saturday to win outright as a 3.5-point underdog. Kentucky has won and covered 5 in a row since a stunning 80-73 loss at Rupp Arena on Dec. 2 against unranked UNC Wilmington. The Over has cashed in 4 straight, and 10 of the past 11 games for Big Blue.
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Missouri at Kentucky odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:46 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Missouri +550 (bet $100 to win $550) | Kentucky -820 (bet $820 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Missouri +12.5 (-115) | Kentucky -12.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 159.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Missouri at Kentucky picks and predictions
Prediction
Kentucky 87, Missouri 76
Moneyline
Kentucky (-820) will cost you more than 8 times your potential return, and that's way too much risk for not enough reward. While UK should get the job done at home, there is never a reason to justify betting such a heavy favorite, especially straight up.
PASS.
Against the spread
MISSOURI +12.5 (-115) is worth a look catching double digits. The Tigers have played 3 true road games this season, all against Power 6 conference teams. Mizzou won 2 of those games at Minnesota and Pittsburgh, but while grabbing a cover as 13-point 'dogs at Allen Fieldhouse in Kansas on Dec. 9.
Kentucky -12.5 (-105) has covered 5 in a row, but that straight-up loss to UNCW sticks out like a sore thumb. And Kentucky is just 4-4 ATS in the past 8 games as a double-digit favorite.
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Over/Under
OVER 159.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
Kentucky is driving the decision to go high, cashing the Over in 4 in a row, and 10 of the past 11 games overall. This team has scored 87 or more points in each of the past 4 outings, while allowing 76 or more in 3 of those contests.
Mizzou isn't quite as prolific, cashing the Under in each of the past 2, but this team has struggled defensively, ranking in the bottom half in the nation in points allowed (71.6), defensive field-goal percentage (43.0%) and defensive 3-point percentage (32.8%) this season. If you like the Under, those aren't good stats when traveling to Kentucky.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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