Kentucky Wildcats vs. Florida Gators Predictions 3/5/22

Kentucky Wildcats (24-6 SU, 14-16-0 ATS) vs. Florida Gators (19-11 SU, 15-15-0 ATS)
When: Saturday March 05 2022, 2:00 PM PM (ET)
Where: Billy Donovan Court at Exactech Arena

Point Spread: Kentucky -5/Florida +5 (MyBookie)
Total: 143
Money Line: Wildcats -225/Florida -180

Key Injuries

Kentucky
CJ Fredrick: Lower Body (OUT)

Florida
Anthony Duruji: Ankle (QUESTIONABLE)
Jason Jitoboh: Eye (OUT)
Keyontae Johnson: Chest (OUT)

Recent Form

The Kentucky Wildcats come into this matchup with an overall record of 24-6. On the season, the Wildcats have performed well in their 17 conference games, posting a record of 13-4. This mark is good for 2nd in the SEC. So far, Kentucky has won exactly half of their 12 games on the road, sitting at 6-6. Over their last 5 games, they have played above .500 basketball, holding a record of 3-2.

The Florida Gators get set to host the Wildcats with an overall record of 19-11. On the season, the Gators are just above .500 in their 17 conference games, posting a record of 9-8. This mark is good for 5th in the SEC. In addition to playing well in the SEC, Florida has performed well at home. Through 16 games, the Gators are 12-4 at home. Heading into this matchup, the Gators are looking to stay hot as they try to add on to their current 2 game win streak.

For the season, the Kentucky Wildcats are averaging 80.4 points per game, good for a rank of 8th in the NCAA. When playing on the road, the Wildcats’ scoring average drops to 70.3. The team’s defensive performance also takes a hit when playing away from home, giving up an additional 2.0 points per game. On the other side, the Florida Gators are the 160th ranked scoring offense, averaging 70.7 points per game. Throughout the season, the Gators’ offense has not experienced an uptick when playing at home, averaging 72.0 points per game on their home floor. However, the Gators’ defense has benefited from playing at home, giving up -3.0 fewer points per game.

Efficiency Outlook

Kentucky enters this matchup vs Florida, having played 27 games as the more efficient offense and defensive team. In these contests, they have posted a record of 23-4. Through 30 games, the Wildcats are averaging 79.0 points per 70.0 possessions (NCAA Average), compared to 72.0 for the Gators. In these situations, Kentucky has an average scoring margin of 16.0 points. On the other side, the Gators are 2-4 as the inferior team on both ends of the court. In these 6 instances, they hold an average scoring margin of -6.0.

For the year, the Wildcats are well below the NCAA average in percentage of points from made three-point shots, sitting at just 23.6%. This is unlike the Gators, who have relied on made three-pointers for 35.1% of their scoring this year. In terms of efficiency, Kentucky has been the more efficient team, connecting at a rate of 35.7%, compared to Florida at 31.6%.

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Betting Trends Worth Noting

• Wildcats are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
• Wildcats are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
• Gators are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
• Gators are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog.

Joe’s Pick Against the Spread

The Wildcats have spanked Florida by 20+ points in two of their last three meetings. This game doesn’t have a ton of wagering value, however, it’s Kentucky or a pass for me. Bet your Kentucky/Florida pick and ALL your bets today for FREE by taking advantage of a 100% REAL CASH bonus on your first deposit of $100 to $1000 at Betnow Sportsbook! It’s the best sportsbook bonus you’ll ever find on the web!