Kentucky vs. Alabama Predictions & Odds | College Basketball Picks Today (Jan. 3)
No. 14 Alabama opens SEC play at home against unranked Kentucky, and I break down this conference tilt with my Kentucky vs. Alabama predictions. Tipoff from Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala. is set for noon ET (ESPN).
The Crimson Tide are a 5.5-point home favorite, as head coach Nate Oats tries to improve to 4-0 over Wildcats head coach Mark Pope. Until Kentucky shows it can slow down Alabama’s high-powered offense, I am backing the Crimson Tide as favorites.
🏀 Kentucky vs. Alabama predictions
See our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds.
| Predictions | Best odds | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama -5.5 | -110 via BetMGM | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Labaron Philon Over 20.5 points | -110 via bet365 | ⭐⭐⭐ |
💰 Kentucky vs. Alabama best bet
Want more college basketball betting advice? Check out all of our college basketball analysis and expert predictions this season.
Alabama -5.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐
After Alabama’s convincing 102-78 win over Ivy League favorite Yale, it has won 10 non-conference games for the fourth time under Nate Oats, despite playing the third-toughest schedule among Power 4 schools.
Alabama had Kentucky’s number last year, going 3-0 and winning by an average score of 99-83.3. It also held the Wildcats to 70 points in the SEC Tournament, their lowest scoring output in a 14-game stretch.
But Alabama’s 99-point average should concern Kentucky backers, especially since this year’s team takes much better care of the basketball, ranking seventh in turnover rate after finishing 142nd a year ago.
Score prediction: Alabama 90, Kentucky 81
🔥 Best Kentucky vs. Alabama player prop
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Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama: Over 20.5 points (-110) ⭐⭐⭐
Labaron Philon is the catalyst for an Alabama offense that ranks eighth nationally in scoring and third in field goal attempts per game.
Philon entered the week as one of three players to rank in the top 45 in scoring and assists.
After scoring 22 points in the two regular season meetings against Kentucky last year, he tied a season-high with 21 points in the SEC Tournament win.
He also matched his season-high six free throw attempts, while equaling or exceeding that number five times this season. That speaks to how much more aggressive he is in this offense.
📊 Live Kentucky vs. Alabama odds
📺 How to watch Kentucky vs. Alabama
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 3
- Tipoff: Noon ET
- Location: Coleman Coliseum (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
- TV: ESPN
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