Kentucky vs Florida Betting Odds – Inside presence should give Wildcats edge

Kentucky has been one of the NCAA basketball betting favourites since the beginning of the season, and they’ll head on the road to face Florida on Tuesday night in SEC action. Much has been made of Kentucky’s talented guards, but it’s their post play that should earn them a tough win in Gainesville, where they’ve struggled as of late

The Storyline – Kentucky vs Florida betting odds maker breakdown
The No.3 Wildcats (16-0, 1-0) opened up the SEC portion of their schedule with a tough win over Georgia, and a tough road trip to Florida will be the perfect test for freshman star John Wall and company. The Gators (11-4, 0-1) fell in their SEC opener at Vanderbilt, and they have their own talented freshman guard in Kenny Boynton. The Wildcats have dropped five straight in Gainesville, and they’ll look to end that streak with their deadly inside-outside mix.

Offensive Matchups - Kentucky vs Florida betting odds maker breakdown
The Wildcats can kill you with Wall or Bledsoe at the guard position, or they can go inside to DeMarcus Cousins or Patrick Patterson. Kentucky is in the top 20 nationally in points scored and field-goal percentage, and with Wall is the key as no one can stop him from getting in the lane, and he usually makes the right decision.

The Gators have five players averaging in double figures, led by Boynton, who isn’t getting the publicity of Wall but may be just as important to his team’s Sportsbook  odds. Alex Tyus and Chandler Parsons are counted on for Florida’s inside production. Their X-factor may be sophomore guard Erving Walker, who can take some of the pressure off of Boynton.

Betting Edge: Kentucky

Defensive Matchups - Kentucky vs Florida betting odds maker breakdown
The Wildcats like to pressure the ball, and again, it starts with Wall on the perimeter as he averaged 2.4 steals per game. Kentucky is also the best rebounding team in the nation, powered by Cousins and Patterson. Their inexperience raises its head sometimes in the form of taking possessions off, and the Wildcats can sometimes let their opponents back into games.

The 95 points Florida allowed at Vanderbilt was their highest of the season, but the Gators are still solid defensively. Florida has to be stout on the floor, because they’re not a big team on the boards, and they don’t block very many shots. Center Vernon Macklin needs to be more consistent to help the Gators in the post, especially on Tuesday.

Betting Edge:Kentucky

Coaching Matchup - Kentucky vs Florida betting odds maker breakdown
Kentucky thought about luring Billy Donovan from Florida before deciding on John Calipari, and it’s tough to say they made a bad choice as Calipari brought Wall, Cousins and Bledsoe with him from Memphis, where he recruited them. That’s no knock on Donovan, who won back-to-back NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007. These are two coaches who know how to get their point across, and they are master recruiters.

Betting Edge: Draw

Betting Prediction - Kentucky vs Florida betting odds maker breakdown
The Gators have won eight of their last 10 over the Wildcats, who haven’t won the SEC since 2005. Calipari was brought in to change that, and it begins by ending their poor run against Florida, who doesn’t have the talent of their championship teams, but they still work hard and play for 40 minutes. They’ll have to work as hard as they have all season to beat the talented Wildcats, who will be heading out for their first tough online betting test on the road. Look for the Wildcats to go inside to Cousins and Patterson early, and often.

WASHINGTON’S PICK: Kentucky

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