Texas A&M vs. Kentucky Odds
A tale of two ships, back on course. The Wildcats and Aggies were once two SEC teams bubbling up far below their preseason projections. Now, they are sailing steadily.
The Aggies are 6-0 outright and 4-2 against the spread over the last six contests. This ATS record should be at 5-1 if not for Florida’s last rally game.
Buzz Williams’ teams thrive on energy and effort, which is exactly what’s injected into A&M’s veins.
After losing home Armageddon to South Carolina, Kentucky shocked everyone with a victory on the road in Tennessee. Then, UK took an interest in business against the resurgent Florida club at Rupp Arena.
Can they pick up a third straight home win against the Aggies?
Two weeks ago, LSU coach Matt McMahon highlighted Dexter Dennis as the X factor in Texas A&M’s double-digit win over the Tigers.
Dennis, a former AAC Defensive Player of the Year, is a pitch-builder on both sides of the floor. Williams likes to spice up offense from his defense, and Dennis is the catalyst for that formula.
Dennis can steal on his own, but his clean glass allows him to ignite counterstrikes.
His offensive game is also near-form, as is frontline ally Julius Marble, a Michigan State defector. The marbles were a threat on the boards as well, enabling the Aggies to dominate the glass on both ends.
Despite the loss of former five-star talent Manny Obaseki, A&M’s depth — a mix of proven returns and productive newcomers — blunts SEC opponents.
Wildcats seem to have found their blue-blooded moxie. Oscar Chippui needed a quick kick in the back from manager John Calipari to find her, but preseason MVP is looking the part after derailed injuries and is a highly anticipated blowout.
Veteran deadeye CJ Fredrick, another slow, injury-bound fielder, is back in his groove and making game winning and key shots. The former Iowa transfer is a terrific 5-for-10 from downtown since returning to action.
A fellow transfer and backcourt counterpart, Antonio Reeves is settling into a new role: spot offense off the bench. Collectively, the extra pieces began to fall into place.
However, the key remains the main focus of Cason Wallace. The Apprentice is two-way horror at its best but still a freshman at heart. Hence, it is subject to fluctuations.
He responded in emphatic fashion against Georgia, pacing a sound Kentucky floor game while racking up 17 effective points of his own (which didn’t hold a candle to Tshiebwe’s 37-point, 24-rebound dominance).
Texas A&M vs Kentucky Betting Pick
Due to the rapid rise of both teams in this mile, the value lies to the side with more room to rise.
In this case, this is Kentucky, which has slipped outside the top 25 on most analytical measures. Bookmakers generally agree, as evidenced by Tennessee’s massive 14-point opening streak.
The books are likely to be adapted, but this could be an inflection point for a meteoric rise for wildcats. The idea of putting in large numbers in the UK sounds lousy, but in the short term buying a preferred home has the potential to be a worthwhile investment.
Kentucky bets even -5, with a slight advantage toward Kentucky at halftime -3.
pluck or pluck: KFC 1H -3 or better
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