Kentucky vs. UCLA: Prediction, decide, unfold, basketball recreation odds, dwell stream, watch on-line, TV channel

Two of the highest packages within the historical past of faculty basketball will meet Saturday in a legendary venue as No. 13 Kentucky takes on No. 16 UCLA as a part of the CBS Sports activities Traditional at Madison Sq. Backyard. The sport will observe an earlier tilt between North Carolina and No. 23 Ohio State as a part of the occasion, which highlights a triple-header of marquee faculty basketball motion on CBS.

Each Kentucky and UCLA started the season ranked in facet the top-10 of the AP Prime 25 however have produced blended leads to the early portion of the season. Nonetheless, each squads look like trending up by having notched massive wins over high quality opponents away from residence in latest outings.

Kentucky defeated Michigan 73-69 in London on Dec. 4 and has solely performed as soon as since then — a 69-59 win over Yale on Dec. 10 — amid a portion in faculty basketball’s calendar when the schedule will get a little bit gentle resulting from last exams. At 7-2, the Wildcats have seemed stronger not too long ago after displaying some flaws in losses to Michigan State and Gonzaga final month. Protection is Kentucky’s calling card because the Wildcats enter holding opponents to only 38.1% taking pictures from the ground. That makes Kentucky the nation’s Twenty second-best protection within the nation by way of opponent’s taking pictures share. Offense has been hit and miss from the Wildcats, however the one fixed has been reigning Nationwide Participant of the Yr Oscar Tshiebwe, who already has 5 double-doubles.

UCLA has received six straight video games since dropping to Illinois and Baylor within the Roman Principal Occasion final month. The Bruins’ resurgence since then features a 2-0 begin to league play with wins over Stanford and Oregon in addition to an particularly spectacular 87-60 non convention victory at Maryland on Wednesday. 4 gamers scored between 14 and 19 factors for the Bruins in that recreation, led by Jaylen Clark’s 19. UCLA pressured 16 Maryland turnovers within the newest signal of the group’s defensive enchancment since its poor displaying within the Roman Principal Occasion.

The way to watch Kentucky vs. UCLA dwell

Date: Saturday, Dec. 17 | Time: 5:15 p.m. ET
Location: Madison Sq. Backyard — New York
TV: CBS | Dwell stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports activities App (Free)

Kentucky vs. UCLA prediction, picks

Featured Recreation | Kentucky Wildcats vs. UCLA Bruins

Kentucky star massive man Oscar Tshiebwe goes to be an issue for UCLA. Although five-star freshman middle Adem Bona has proven tons of promise for the Bruins, Tshiebwe needs to be salivating over the prospect to bully a younger participant on the block. Assuming UCLA brings some double groups, this recreation may come right down to Kentucky’s capacity to knock down perimeter pictures. The Wildcats have been strong in that regard thus far this season, taking pictures 39.2% from past the arc. Even in an unfamiliar setting in London a pair weeks in the past, Kentucky hit 9 of 15 makes an attempt from deep with 4 completely different gamers getting in on the motion throughout an enormous win over Michigan. Search for the UK offense to stay balanced sufficient right here to get the win.  Prediction: Kentucky +1.5

Who will win and canopy in each faculty basketball recreation? Go to SportsLine to get picks from the mannequin that simulates every recreation 10,000 occasions and is up greater than $1,200 for $100 gamers on its top-rated unfold picks the previous six years.