The 12th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats will look to continue their home-court dominance when they face the eighth-ranked Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes in a 2023 ACC/SEC Challenge matchup on Tuesday. Under coach John Calipari, who is in his 15th season with the team, the Wildcats (5-1) have dominated opponents at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., going 225-21 under his watch. The Hurricanes (5-0), meanwhile, will be facing a ranked foe for the first time this season. Miami is 67-186 all-time against Associated Press ranked teams and 19-82 when playing those teams on the road.
The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. Miami is averaging 89 points per game, while Kentucky averages 94.3. The Wildcats are 6.5-point favorites in the latest Miami vs. Kentucky odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 164. Before making any Kentucky vs. Miami picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 4 of the 2023-24 season on an 94-61 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,800 for $100 players. It is also off to an 8-2 roll on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Kentucky vs. Miami and revealed its CBB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see the picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Miami vs. Kentucky:
- Kentucky vs. Miami spread: Kentucky -6.5
- Kentucky vs. Miami over/under: 164 points
- Kentucky vs. Miami money line: Miami +221, Kentucky -275
- MIA: The Hurricanes have returned more than +1500 on the money line in the last 35 games
- KEN: The Wildcats have hit the team total over in 19 of their last 34 games (+1.65 units)
- Kentucky vs. Miami picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Kentucky can cover
Graduate forward Tre Mitchell is averaging 15 points and 6.2 rebounds, and has a 7.0 assist-to-turnover ratio, ranking sixth in the country. He leads the team with 34.4 minutes of action per game, and has scored in double figures four times. Mitchell led the Wildcats with 22 points against St. Joseph's on Nov. 20, hitting a season-best four 3-pointers, including two in overtime to seal the win. He has amassed more than 1,300 career points and more than 550 career rebounds.
Freshman guard D.J. Wagner is on the Bob Cousy Award preseason watch list for the nation's best point guard, and was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday after averaging 25 points in wins over Marshall and Saint Joseph's. He is averaging 14.5 points and 3.7 assists per game. He scored 28 points and added five assists in the win over Marshall. In the season-opening win over New Mexico State on Nov. 6, he registered 13 points, four assists and a team-high three steals. See which team to pick here.
Why Miami can cover
Junior guard Wooga Poplar powers the Hurricane offense, averaging 18 points, six rebounds and 1.6 assists in 29.8 minutes of action. He is connecting on 50.9% of his shots from the floor, including 59.4% from 3-point range. He is also 13 of 13 from the free throw line. He registered a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds in a 79-68 win over Georgia on Nov. 17. He scored a season-high 23 points in an 88-82 win over Central Florida on Nov. 10.
Junior guard Matthew Cleveland is also among the team's top scorers, averaging 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He is connecting on 62.7% of his field goals, including 50% from 3-point range, and 81.3% from the free throw line. Cleveland, who is in his first season with the Hurricanes after spending two years at Florida State, has reached double-figure scoring in all five games. He registered a double-double in the season opener with 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 101-60 win over NJIT on Nov. 6. See which team to pick here.
How to make Miami vs. Kentucky picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under the total, projecting 161 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread is the better value. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Kentucky vs. Miami, and which side of the spread is the better value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is up over $1,800 since last season, and find out.
