The SEC Conference Tournament continues today with a primetime quarterfinal matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and Alabama Crimson Tide.

Check out these Kentucky vs. Alabama predictions below as we take a deep dive into the game, odds, stats, and more!

 

 

 

Kentucky vs. Alabama Predictions For SEC Conference Tournament, 3/14 

Friday night’s SEC showdown sets up to be an entertaining, high-scoring contest featuring two potent offenses. Enjoy our Kentucky vs. Alabama picks before the game tips off from Nashville at 9:30 pm ET.

Let’s now get into the top Kentucky vs. Alabama predictions for the SEC Conference Tournament. 

 

 

 

Kentucky Wildcats: Survive & Advance

It’s the name of the game in March Madness: survive and advance. Kentucky did just that last night with an 85-84 victory over Oklahoma in the second round of the SEC Tournament. The Wildcats blew a 12-point lead with less than four minutes to go and were even trailing with five seconds left. Yet, they hung on via an Otega Oweh game-winning bucket in the final moments.

Kentucky went 21-10 in the regular season and 10-8 in conference play. The records weren’t as good as their 13th ranking in the NET, but thus was life in the juggernaut SEC this year. The Wildcats have won three straight games coming into this quarterfinal matchup and are projected to be a No. 3 seeed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Injuries have been a major concern for Kentucky lately. Starting guard and second-leading scorer Jaxson Robinson was lost for the season last month while senior guard Kerr Kriisa suffered a season-ending injury back in December. 

To make matters worse, starting point guard Lamont Butler logged just eight minutes last night as he re-aggravated a shoulder injury. There’s a good chance he’s sidelined tonight. 

 

 

 

Alabama Crimson Tide: SEC Title On The Horizon?

Just a month ago, Alabama was 21-3 overall and 10-1 in conference play as it looked like a real contender to Auburn in the SEC. Then the Crimson Tide lost four of their next six games. Yet, they righted the ship in the regular-season finale with a road upset of rival Auburn in overtime. 

Alabama is still alive to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and an SEC conference tournament title would likely clinch that honor. The journey begins tonight against Kentucky. The Crimson Tide should be motivated to come out strong with seeding implications on the line. Plus, they were bounced in the quarterfinals a year ago and Bama has arguably the best offense in college basketball. 

It’s 91.2 PPG lead the country while ranking second nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency, per KenPom. The Tide regularly force teams to match their high-powered scoring, and it usually doesn’t go well for the opponent.

 

 

 

Kentucky vs. Alabama Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines

Before we get to our Kentucky vs. Alabama predictions, check out the betting lines on FanDuel Sportsbook. As of this writing, here are the Kentucky vs. Alabama odds: 

  • Kentucky Wildcats (+235) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (-295)
    • Spread: Kentucky +7.5 (-115) vs. Alabama -7.5 (-105)
    • Game Total: Over 179.5 (-110) vs. Under 179.5 (-110)

 

 

 

Kentucky vs. Alabama Pick: Crimson Tide -7.5 (-105 on FanDuel)

Alabama won both regular-season matchups against Kentucky, winning by 13 points at home in the most-recent meeting less than a month ago. The common view is that it’s always tough beating the same team three times in a season. That’s not exactly the case here, though.

This is simply a bad matchup for Kentucky. The Wildcats have a poor interior defense, ranking 283rd nationally and last in the SEC in two-point defense. Meanwhile, Alabama is elite at scoring inside. The Crimson Tide rank fourth in Division I and first in the SEC in two-point shooting percentage. They grab offensive rebounds and draw fouls at high rates as well.

Plus, Kentucky ranks 339th in the country in defensive turnover rate. If the ‘Cats can’t stop Alabama from controlling the paint and also aren’t forcing turnovers – it might be a long night. Unsurprisingly, Bama put up 102 and 96 points in the two previous matchups vs.. UK. 

On the other end, Kentucky’s offense could have trouble keeping pace on the scoreboard. The Wildcats rely heavily on three-point scoring and are shooting a conference-best 37.6% from deep this year. However, Alabama is holding opponents to 30.4% from three and defends the perimeter exceptionally well while forcing teams inside. 

If Lamont Butler can’t play tonight, then Kentucky’s backcourt will be seriously hampered. It’s already in a tough situation with Robinson and Kriisa out for the season. With Butler out, inexperienced freshmen Collin Chandler and Travis Perry will be thrust into bigger roles. The Wildcats’ ball-handling could be an issue, and Bama will be hunting for steals. 

Take Alabama to cover the 7.5-point spread (-105 on FanDuel) for our Kentucky vs. Alabama predictions. The Crimson Tide have key advantages on both ends of the court which can help them stretch out and maintain a lead. Plus, we have to wonder how much the Wildcats have left in the tank after surviving a hard-fought, physical battle less than 24 hours ago. 

 

 

 

Kentucky vs. Alabama Injury Report & Starting Lineup

Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

  • Lamont Butler (G) – Questionable
  • Jaxson Robinson (G) – Out
  • Kerr Kriisa (G) – Out

Kentucky Wildcats Starters

  • Otega Oweh (G) – 16.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG
  • Koby Brea (G) – 11.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG
  • Collin Chandler (G) – 2.3 PPG, 0.6 SPG
  • Amari Williams (F) – 10.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG
  • Andrew Carr (F) – 10.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG

Alabama Crimson Tide Injuries

  • Latrell Wrightsell (G) – Out 
  • Derrion Reed (F) – Questionable 

Alabama Crimson Tide Starters

  • Mark Sears (G) – 19.2 PPG, 5.0 APG
  • Grant Nelson (F) – 12.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG
  • Labaron Philon (G) – 10.9 PPG, 3.5 APG
  • Chris Youngblood (G) – 10.0 PPG, 2.4 RPG
  • Clifford Omoruyi (F) – 7.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG

 

 

 

How To Bet On Kentucky vs. Alabama At FanDuel Sportsbook & Claim Your $200 Bonus

Check out this awesome promotion from FanDuel Sportsbook after reading our Kentucky vs. Alabama predictions. Just click this link to get started. You don’t even need a FanDuel promo code to get in on the action. 

To qualify, all you need to do is make your first bet of at least $5 after depositing a minimum of $5. If your bet wins, you’ll score $200 in bonus bets! You can take advantage of this offer no matter what sporting event you choose to bet on.

By signing up through this link and grabbing the amazing FanDuel Sportsbook promo, you’ll unlock a variety of betting options. That includes our Kentucky vs. Alabama predictions for today’s SEC Tournament quarterfinal.