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THE SPORTS ADVISORS

(4) Kentucky vs. (14) UConn

(at New York)

UConn earnings to Madison Square Garden for a second time in reduction than three weeks as it tries to hit a Wildcats from a ranks of a unbeatens in a SEC/Big East Invitational.

The Huskies shot only 36.1 percent from a margin as well as missed 13 of twenty-eight free-throw attempts in an nauseous 68-59 detriment to Duke during a Garden behind upon Nov. 7. However, theyve bounced behind with a span of home victories over Boston University (92-64 in a non-lined contest) as well as Harvard (79-73, descending way reduced as an 18-point favorite). Take divided a poor offensive bid opposite Duke, as well as UConn has scored during least 75 points in any diversion (all victories), averaging 80 ppg.

Kentucky hold off No. 10 North Carolina 68-66 upon Saturday, descending only reduced of covering as a 3-point home favorite. Patrick Patterson (19 points, 7 rebounds) as well as loyal freshman John Wall (16 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists) led a way for a Wildcats, who won despite committing twenty turnovers as well as making only fourteen of 22 foul shots, though a defense stepped up, tying a fortifying champs to only 38.8 percent shooting. First-year coach John Calipari has seen his team lift out a span of two-point home wins (68-66 over UNC; 72-70 over Miami of Ohio), whilst also needed overtime to hit off Stanford in a neutral-site game.

These college basketball superpowers final met in a second turn of a 2006 NCAA Tournament, with a Huskies scoring an 87-83 win as well as Kentucky cashing as a nine-point underdog.

In lined action, UConn is upon ATS runs of 8-3 during neutral sites, 8-3 opposite a SEC as well as 4-0 upon Wednesday, though a Huskies have failed to cover in 6 of 7 altogether as well as 5 of 6 after a SU win. Kentucky is in ATS slumps of 2-5 overall, 3-7 after an undisguised victory as well as 0-5 upon Wednesday, though it is 11-3-1 ATS in its final fourteen opposite Big ! East opp onents.

UConn has topped a sum in eight of 11 overall, 5 of 7 in non-conference play as well as nineteen of twenty-six during neutral sites, as well as Kentucky has gone over a series in 4 of 5 opposite a Big East. Conversely, a Wildcats are upon underneath runs of 9-2 overall, 5-0 during neutral venues, 6-2 after a SU win as well as 13-6 after an ATS setback.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE

(3) Villanova (8-0, 6-1 ATS) vs. St. Joes (3-4, 2-4 ATS)

(at Philadelphia)

Villanova puts its ideal record upon a line in an annual Big Five clash with Philadelphia-area rival St. Joes during a Palestra.

The Wildcats moved to 8-0 with Sundays 95-86 subjection of Maryland, cashing as a 2-point highway favorite, their fifth true spread-cover. Villanova has topped 70 points in all though a single diversion when it scored 69 in a one-point squeaker opposite George Mason as well as is averaging 82.4 ppg despite sharpened only 42.9 percent from a field. Going behind to final years run to a Final Four, Villanova is upon a 25-5 roll (20-9 ATS in lined games).

St. Joes started a deteriorate with three true narrow wins over Drexel (77-67 in overtime), Holy Cross (69-67) as well as Boston College (84-80), though a Hawks have since dropped 4 in a quarrel SU as well as ATS, many recently descending Sunday to Cornell 78-66 as a 10-point highway underdog. St. Joes has put up only 62.5 ppg during its losing streak.

Villanova hold off a Hawks 59-56 final year, though failed to cover as an 11-point highway favorite. The Wildcats have taken 4 of a final 5 meetings, though theyve come up reduced of cashing a final two years following a 5-1-1 ATS run. Finally, a a a single preferred is upon a 5-1-1 ATS roll in this rivalry.
In addition to its 20-9 ATS run altogether (5-0 ATS final five), Villanova is upon ATS upticks of 4-1 upon Wednesday, 7-2 opposite teams with losing records as well as 18-7-2 opposite opponents out of a Atlantic 10 Conference.