Kentucky Wildcats vs Alabama Crimson Tide | Predictions, Free Pick, Odds | Sportsbookbuzz.com

NCAA Basketball Free Pick – Tuesday, January 18, 2011

vs.

#12 Kentucky (14-3, 2-1 SEC) at Alabama (10-7, 2-1 SEC)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST on ESPN

Spread: Kentucky -5
Over/Under: OFF

The Alabama Crimson Tide will try an attempt what the past nine teams that have faced the Wildcats have not done—win.

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That may prove a more difficult task despite the fact the Tide are headed in the right direction and while they are markedly improved over last year’s team.

They are still struggling to find their rhythm and are just 2-1 in SEC play while coming off a 70-65 loss in a tough game at Arkansas, a game they had a chance to win. Trevor Releford scored 17 points and JaMychal Green added 16 in the loss.

Offensively Alabama has struggled as they average just 67.5 points per game shooting barley 45 percent from the floor while averaging 38.9 offensive rebounds per game. Green is averaging 15.4 points and 7.4 rebounds, while Tony Mitchell is averaging 14.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, and Chris Hines is grabbing seven rebounds per game.

Defensively is where Alabama has made the biggest improvement and for the season is allowing an SEC-low 56.8 points per game, including 48.2 at home.

For the Wildcats, they are once again a team loaded with top-flight talent and have proved their worth posting a record of 3-0 against teams ranked in the top 25. However, they have labored on the road this year where they are 1-2 thus far.

Offensively the Cats are averaging a whopping 80 points per game and they are shooting 46.5 percent from the floor while hauling in an amazing 40.8 offensive rebounds per game. Leading scorer Terrance Jones who is leading all freshmen in scoring is averaging 18.6 points and nine rebounds per game. But the real story is the Kentucky defense. It no surprise that they are allowing just over 60 points per game while holding the opposition to just 37.8 percent shooting

Kentucky is the first ranked opponent Alabama is facing this season. The Tide went 2-6 against teams in the Top 25 in 2009-10.

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The Wildcats have won three of their last four visits to Alabama and five straight overall in the series with the Cats winning by an average margin of eight. However, the Crimson Tide is 9-0 this season in Tuscaloosa.

This one looks like it is going to be a real defensive struggle, and unless the Tide can use their new found defensive prowess to shut down the Kentucky offensive machine early on in this one, the Cats get the win.

Free Pick: Kentucky 85, Alabama 69

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