Kentucky vs Vanderbilt Odds, Lines, and Spread
- The Kentucky Wildcats (6-13, 5-7 SEC) take on the Vanderbilt Commodores (6-10, 2-8 SEC) on Wednesday, February 17th
- Both teams are looking to gain a little momentum going into the SEC Tournament after winning their last game over conference opponents
- See the odds, spread, analysis, and best bet below
The Kentucky Wildcats and Vanderbilt Commodores will clash at the Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee on the SEC Network Wednesday night.
The Wildcats are in the middle of a season they would like to forget at this point. They are still a dangerous team though, as they did beat Auburn 82-80 last time out.
Vanderbilt is also coming off of a rare SEC win last Saturday. They absolutely smoked the Mississippi State Bulldogs 72-51 in Starkville.
The Wildcats have been untouchable in this series recently. The last time Vanderbilt took a game was back in 2016 although they have covered seven of the last 10 meetings. The current odds are showing Kentucky favored by 4.5-points in this matchup.
Kentucky vs Vanderbilt Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Wildcats | -4.5 (+100) | -215 | Over 139 (-110) |
| Vanderbilt Commodores | +4.5 (-120) | +170 | Under 139 (-110) |
Odds as of Feb 15th at FanDuel.
Kentucky’s Offense Coming to Life
This has obviously been a down year by the Kentucky Wildcats’ standards. They’re an afterthought in the SEC and will likely need to win the SEC Tournament just to qualify for the Big Dance. As with every recent Wildcats’ team, they are led by freshmen and this year’s bunch has taken a little longer to mature. Judging by last Saturday’s performance, it looks like the kids are starting to figure it out.
Freshmen shake off ‘heavy burden’ as Cats finally earn their reward: victoryhttps://t.co/ZClkOEUB8e
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 13, 2021
The Wildcats have been noticeably bad from behind the arc this season, one reason why they are 6-13 on the season. But against Auburn, that weakness turned into a strength as Kentucky went 11-for-24 from three-land in route to an 83-80 victory. Brandon Boston led the way from downtown going 5-of-8 and Isaiah Jackson recorded a double-double scoring 18 points and securing 11 rebounds.
Vanderbilt No Pushover
The Commodores have been the SEC’s doormat this season as they have only won two games in the conference. Despite their record, they have been competitive in their last five conference games, including a battle with the Florida Gators. Last Saturday, they were more than competitive as they beat the brakes off of the Mississippi State Bulldogs 72-51 in their own building.
☔️ ☔️ ☔️ ☔️ ☔️ ☔️ ☔️ ☔️ pic.twitter.com/HPAg7uk1UN
— Vanderbilt Men's Basketball (@VandyMBB) February 14, 2021
Scotty Pippen Jr set the tone early, draining three straight three-pointers in the first 2:11 of the game. The onslaught from downtown did not stop as the Commodores ended up splashing in 13 from deep in route to a 43% shooting day from distance. Maxwell Evans paced Vanderbilt in scoring, dumping in 20 points while chipping in four rebounds. Pippen ended up one assist away from a double-double, finishing with nine dimes to go along with his 18 points.
Best Betting Angle
The Wildcats have not been a very fun over bet all season as their offensive efficiency is barely in the top 100 (adjusted for opponent) according to KenPom. But over the last three games, they have seen a spike in efficiency, averaging six more points per 100 possessions than their season average in that span. Included in their last three games is a bout with the nation’s third best defense in Tennessee.
What has contributed the most to the efficiency turnaround is the Wildcats’ three-point shooting. On the year they are a dismal 32.7% from beyond the arc but in their last five games they are a ridiculous 43.5%. It’s obvious that Brandon Boston is feeling it as he has connected on nine of his last 13 long range attempts.
.@bboston_ was breaking ankles and splashing 3s all day 😼🏀 pic.twitter.com/ahXBYM3fs1
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 14, 2021
The Commodores are currently 257th in opponent three-point percentage on the season so they are a ripe target. They have the offense to answer and play at a reasonable pace for a shootout. The last time these two teams met the total was only 136 and although it has been adjusted, it still might not be high enough.
The pick: Over 139 (-110)
John has spent the past 20+ years betting sports on a daily basis and is considered by many to be a walking sports betting encyclopedia. From obscure player props to sides and totals, if there is an angle, John will find it.
