The Kentucky Wildcats (25-8) didn't have to worry about getting an at-large bid to the 2011 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament after defeating Florida in the SEC Tournament on Sunday. The Wildcats enter as a East Regional 4-seed and will play Ivy League champs Princeton Tigers (25-6) at St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla, Thursday (Mar. 17) with tip-off set for 2:45 PM Eastern.
Most off shore sports shops list Kentucky as double-digit 13 1/2-chalk College Basketball Odds favorites versus the Tigers with a combined score 130 1/2 total. Currently moneyline odds for this game are OFF the NCAA Tournament off shore board.
The Wildcats ran hot and cold at times but finished the regular season strong, winning their last six games including a win over SEC regular season champs Florida Gators in the SEC Tournament championship game Sunday (Mar. 13). The Wildcats were not a great cover team beating the point spreads 13 times of 28 tries and pushing twice. Totals results in Wildcat games went to the UNDER 14 times besting the OVER (13) by one. When lined double-digits favorites Kentucky covered in 4 of 8 games with one push.
Early Betting trends, always great tools for making your tournament bracket College Basketball Picks show Kentucky a big favorite getting 72 percent of the action while the OVER is the totals choice of 63 percent of players.
The last time Princeton played a school with tradition comparable to Kentucky was in game-2 of the season losing to Duke by 37 (60-97), and failing to cover ATS as a +23 1/2 underdog. The 157 points for the game easily went OVER the posted 135 total. In totals betting the OVER cashed for backers in 16 lined games compared to nine for the UNDER.
Betting fans might want to make their NCAA Basketball Picks a total play for this game betting the OVER 130 1/2. I question how good the Tigers are on defense and both these teams like to run the court. NCAA Tournament BEST BET – OVER 130.
