Kentucky Wildcats NCAA Basketball Betting
It was a decent but unfulfilling regular season for the Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky was in the upper half of the SEC race but never seriously threatened for the title. One positive note is that Kentucky did finish in the black against the oddsmakers. Head coach John Calipari has raised the white flag about defense. Kentucky does not play any and Calipari has given up on the project of trying to develop defensive commitment. Instead, the Wildcats use one of the nation’s best offenses to try and outscore opponents.
Check the latest NCAA Basketball Betting Lines today!
2024 Kentucky Wildcats Betting Odds
Oakland Golden Grizzlies +13.5
Kentucky Wildcats -13.5
Total: 163
Money Line: Oakland +753, Kentucky -1194
Kentucky Wildcats Next Matchup
On Thursday, March 21, 2024, the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference will face the Oakland Golden Grizzlies of the Horizon League at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. Tipoff Time is 7:10 p.m. ET, with television coverage on CBS.
Oakland Golden Grizzlies Team Overview
Overall, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies are 20-11 straight up, 19-12 against the spread, and 18-12 over/under the total. Oakland has national metrics of 106th for scoring offense, 157th for field goal percentage, 114th for 3-point field goal percentage, 50th for free throw percentage, and 123rd for offensive rebounding. While defensively, Oakland is 220th for scoring defense, 197th for field goal percentage permitted, 237th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 198th for defensive rebounding.
Late on, Oakland has covered six of its previous nine games. Oakland has gone over the total in four of its last five outings.
Kentucky Wildcats Team Overview
Overall, the Kentucky Wildcats are 23-8 straight up, 18-13 against the spread, and 22-9 over/under the total. Kentucky has national metrics of 2nd for scoring offense, 7th for field goal percentage, 1st for 3-point field goal percentage, 20th for free throw percentage, and 77th for offensive rebounding. While defensively, Kentucky is 339th for scoring defense, 120th for field goal percentage permitted, 105th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 281st for defensive rebounding.
Late on, Kentucky has covered three of its previous seven games. Kentucky has gone over the total in five of its last six outings. First among Kentucky scorers is G Antonio Reeves, with 20.0 points per game.
Kentucky Wildcats basketball fans are running out of patience with the John Calipari era. And it’s safe to say his program has never had a perturbation like this. Of course, Calipari hustled the summer recruiting cycle and had another productive offseason. That’s become common practice for Kentucky basketball.
However, the Wildcats are coming off a season that ended another early exit in the Big Dance against the underdog Kansas State Wildcats. This program and its passionate fan base feel due for a deep March run.
The Wildcats tried to retake the SEC throne in the most John Calipari way possible: completely against the grain. After two seasons of trying and failing with older players — mostly transfers — Kentucky went back into its coach’s comfort zone with eight freshmen, two sophomores, no juniors, and just two seniors. The other 13 teams in the league average just shy of eight scholarship upperclassmen. Calipari had a league-low two.
The Wildcats had been picked to win the league every season but one (when they were picked second) from 2011 to 2022. It’s a show-me season, and Calipari is definitely feeling defiant and feisty. He needs a deep March Madness run.
The Kentucky Wildcats are the most successful college basketball program in history in terms of all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Additionally, the Wildcats lead all schools with 60 NCAA Tournament appearances, 132 Big Dance wins, 186 March Madness games played, 45 Sweet Sixteen appearances, 38 Elite Eight appearances, and 53 conference championships.
Kentucky ranks third behind the North Carolina Tar Heels and UCLA Bruins with 17 Final Fours. On the whole, the Wildcats have eight national titles. With all of that going for them, it was a shocker that the Wildcats missed the postseason in 2020-21.
Latest NCAA Tournament Results
| YEAR |
RESULT |
| 2023 |
Lost Second Round vs. (15) Kansas State 69–75 |
| 2022 |
Lost First Round vs. (15) St. Peter's, 79–85 (OT) |
| 2019 |
Lost Elite Eight vs. (5) Auburn, 71–77 (OT) |
| 2018 |
Lost Sweet Sixteen vs. (9) Kansas State, 58–61 |
| 2017 |
Lost Elite Eight vs. (1) North Carolina, 73–75 |
| 2016 |
Lost Second Round vs. (5) Indiana, 67–73 |
2023-2024 NCAA Basketball Top Teams
Log into BookMaker Sportsbook and get the best Basketball Betting Odds, Basketball Betting Articles and information about this and all other sports betting events!
