Published Mar 9, 7:56pm ET by
Gabriel Kozlow - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 9, 7:56pm ET
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Updated Mar 9, 7:58pm ET
We have a first-round battle in the SEC Tournament between the LSU Tigers and the Kentucky Wildcats. The game will be played at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, and can be seen on the SEC Network.
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| KENTUCKY WILDCATS | -6.5 (-105) |
| LSU TIGERS | +6.5 (-105) |
LSU has had a horrendous season so far, especially when playing teams within its own conference. The Tigers are 15-16 overall and 3-15 in conference play, sitting in last place in the standings. Their March Madness odds are basically gone unless they make a deep run in this tournament.
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The LSU Tigers have not been that bad on offense; however, they are not a strong defensive team, allowing 79 points per game to opponents. Jordan Wright is their top scorer at 16.2 PPG, followed by Daimion Collins at 15.1 PPG.
The Kentucky Wildcats have had a decent season, posting a 19-12 record and going 10-8 in conference play. They have been average over their last 10 games, going 5-5 during that span. They will depend on their elite offense, particularly through ball movement and offensive rebounding.
Kentucky has strong hopes of improving its March Madness position, and all it really needs to do is get past LSU to strengthen its case for a bid. The Wildcats will need Otega Oweh, Reed Sheppard, and Tre Mitchell to perform well and get past the Tigers.
LSU is having a season to forget, while Kentucky is trying to tweak certain aspects of its game heading into March Madness. The Wildcats are favorites at -6.5, with an over/under of 153.5. Both teams are high scorers, so expect this to be an offensive game.
Our take favors Kentucky to cover the 6.5 spread. This should be an easy matchup, especially since LSU has struggled heavily against SEC opponents this season.
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Pick
Kentucky Wildcats -6.5
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