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How to watch Kentucky Wildcats (17-5, 6-3 in SEC) at Missouri Tigers (14-8, 4-5 in SEC)
When: 2:00 p.m. EST on February 3rd, 2018
Where: Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri
TV: CBS
Live Online Stream: CBS Sports Online
Replay: CBS Sports Network (check local listings)
Odds: Missouri opened as a 3-point favorite, but the lien has shifted around between 1.5-2.5 points since. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Wildcats just a 42.6% chance of victory. KenPom projects Kentucky to be a 2-point underdog. KenPom gives Missouri a 56-percent chance of winning and projects a 72-70 win for the Tigers.
Score prediction: Kentucky 67, Missouri 63.
The Kentucky Wildcats are coming off two games where (judging them on the entire game) they didn’t play great, but they did just enough to pull victory from the jaws of defeat.
On Saturday afternoon, they’ll travel to Columbia to take on the Missouri Tigers.
As head coach John Calipari made it clear when conference play began, any place in the SEC is a tough place to play. Mizzou Arena will be no different. The Tigers are fresh off an impressive road win at Alabama.
Missouri has also won at home vs No. 18 Tennessee earlier this season, but they need at least one more signature win to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. They’re currently among the first 4-8 teams out of the tournament in most tournament predictions, so a win over a ranked Kentucky team could be the difference in making or missing the Big Dance.
Though the Tigers lost their star player, Michael Porter Jr., months ago, I absolutely see them putting up a “cat” fight Saturday. However, I also *can’t* see Kentucky coming out flat in three straight games.
I also believe Calipari will make sure his team knows that while late comeback wins are exciting, they’re not a long-term solution. Kentucky should be more balanced throughout the game, as it’ll be a close one and come down to the final seconds.