Kentucky keeps covering in ranked matchups

Kentucky 15-5 (4-3) is having an impressive debut season under Mark Pope. The Wildcats are three losses back of Auburn in the SEC title race but all metrics have the Cats as a top-20 team. Pope’s first group proved that again in Knoxville on Tuesday.

Playing short-handed and without two starters, Kentucky stunned No. 8 Tennessee as a double-digit underdog. That victory gives UK seven Quad 1 wins. The Wildcats are quickly building one of the best NCAA Tournament resumes in college basketball.

In ranked versus ranked matchups, this team has been cash against-the-spread (ATS).

GameResultNo. 19 Kentucky (+5.5) vs. No. 6 DukeWon 77-72No. 4 Kentucky (+6) vs. No. 7 GonzagaWon 90-89 (OT)No. 6 Florida vs. No. 10 Kentucky (-3.5)Won 106-100No. 6 Kentucky (+5.5) at No. 14 Mississippi StateWon 95-90No. 11 Texas A&M at No. 8 Kentucky (-6.5)Won 81-69No. 4 Alabama at No. 8 Kentucky (-2)Lost 102-97No. 12 Kentucky (+10.5) at No. 8 TennesseeWon 78-73

Kentucky is 6-1 outright and 6-1 ATS in ranked vs. ranked games. The Cats are a perfect 4-0 as a dog in these matchups. The wins over teams ranked No. 3 (Duke), No. 4 (Florida), No. 6 (Tennessee), No. 8 (Alabama), No. 10 (Gonzaga), No. 18 (Texas A&M), and No. 23 (Mississippi State). The Cats have been at their best on the brightest stages.

The year started with a big win over Duke and we saw a big second half comeback against Gonzaga. Kentucky went 1-1 in SEC track meets at home but knocked off both Mississippi State and Tennessee on the road to put this team right into the thick of the SEC Tournament double-bye race.

UK’s strong ranked versus ranked record will be tested again soon with remaining games against No. 1 Auburn (home), No. 4 Alabama (road), No. 8 Tennessee (home), No. 20 Missouri (road), No. 23 Ole Miss (road), and No. 24 Vanderbilt (home).

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