That one loss that Kentucky has suffered this season – an upset at South Carolina back on Jan. 26 – is beginning to look more and more like a fluke. Since then, the No. 2 Wildcats have won four games in a row by double digits (2-2 ATS) heading into Saturday's game with No. 12 Tennessee, which has opened as a 9.5-point underdog on Bodog's NCAA Basketball Odds
The Vols (18-5) were spanked at Vanderbilt, 90-71 on Tuesday night. That was the most points UT has allowed to state-rival Vandy since 1993. And Tennessee isn't a very good road team this year at 3-3 (2-4 ATS), with the best win probably coming at Memphis. The Vols are 2-2 in SEC road games, having beaten the worst (LSU) and third-worst (Alabama) teams in the conference. Against ranked teams, the Vols have lost four of their past five on the road. There is one big injury to be aware of for Tennessee. Center Wayne Chism, who has been the team's best player in SEC play and is really the only low-post threat, injured his ankle against Vandy and didn't practice this week. But he is being called probable for Saturday night. Chism is averaging 16.1 points and 9.1 rebounds in SEC play. Key reserve guard Cameron Tatum will miss another game for UT with a foot injury.
Kentucky (23-1, 6-8 ATS at home) should dominate the smallish Vols inside, especially with the way DeMarcus Cousins is playing. The freshman center has seven straight double-doubles (averaging 19.0 ppg, 12.4 rpg and 55.1 percent shooting during the streak), the best run by a UK player in 37 years. He has overtaken fellow freshman John Wall as the dominant presence on the team.
Tennessee actually has more wins against Kentucky than any other school in the nation, but then again UK's most wins against any school are vs. the Vols. These two just play a lot. Kentucky swept the series last year. But Tennessee has won its past two games against Top 5 opponents, including an upset of No. 1 Kansas earlier this year.
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