The SEC Tournament Quarterfinals wraps up with a matchup between the No. 6 seeded Kentucky Wildcats and the No. 3 seed Alabama Crimson Tide.
These are two of the most exciting offenses in the country, and my Kentucky vs Alabama predictions are betting on the Tide to win in a shootout tonight.
Here are my best free college basketball picks for Friday, March 14.
Who will win Kentucky vs Alabama?
Both of these teams are in the Top 15 of the NET rankings, with the Alabama Crimson Tide sitting at No. 6 and the Kentucky Wildcats at No. 12. The Tide have been a bit better on defense, however, ranking 35th in adjusted defense at KenPom — while the Wildcats are 56th.
Alabama already beat Kentucky twice this season, a 13-point win in Tuscaloosa and a victory in Lexington where they had a nine-point lead with a minute remaining.
The Wildcats had second-leading scorer Jaxson Robinson (13.0 ppg) in both of those meetings but lost him to a season-ending injury two weeks ago. Without Robinson, Kentucky won't be able to pull off the upset.
Kentucky vs Alabama prediction
My best bet: Alabama moneyline & both teams to score 80 points (-140 at bet365)
Alabama is third in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency, while Kentucky is seventh. Both teams also play at a breakneck pace, with the Crimson Tide first in the country in tempo while the Wildcats are 15th.
With both programs featuring up-tempo attacks and vulnerable defenses, it's no surprise that they've been in plenty of shootouts.
The Tide are the highest-scoring team in the country (91.2 ppg) and have dropped 80+ points in 13 of their last 14 games, with the only exception coming against Tennessee's top-rated defense. Alabama's blazing-fast pace has also led to plenty of points for opponents, with the Tide surrendering 80+ points in seven of their previous nine contests.
Kentucky edged Oklahoma 85-84 last night on a last-second layup from Otega Oweh. That was the sixth time in the last seven games that Kentucky scored 82+ points, but also the fifth time in the previous six contests that they surrendered more than 80.
That span includes the previous head-to-head meeting when the Tide beat the Wildcats 96-83 in Tuscaloosa. The Tide have also been significantly better on defense at home, so the fact that the Wildcats dropped 83 points at Coleman Coliseum bodes well for their offensive success here.
The first meeting this season happened back in January, with the Tide prevailing 102-97 in Lexington. I'm expecting another victory for Alabama tonight, and I'd be shocked if either team was held below 80 points.
Kentucky vs Alabama same-game parlay (SGP)
Alabama moneyline & both teams to score 80 points
Clifford Omoruyi 7+ rebounds
Koby Brea Over 2.5 threes
Alabama center Clifford Omoruyi has pulled down at least seven boards in 10 of his last 12 games. That includes the previous clash with Kentucky, where he racked up 15 rebounds. With both teams playing at a blazing-fast pace, there should be plenty of possessions and rebounding opportunities.
With Jaxson Robinson done for the season with a wrist injury, Koby Brea is now Kentucky's No. 2 scoring option. The sharpshooter has knocked down more than 2.5 treys in five of his last seven games. The Tide are 339th at allowing high-quality threes per ShotQualityBets, and Brea went 4-for-10 from deep in the previous meeting.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Kentucky vs Alabama odds
Kentucky vs Alabama live odds
Kentucky vs Alabama opening odds
- Spread: Kentucky +6 | Alabama -6
- Moneyline: Kentucky +210 | Alabama -260
- Over/Under: Over 180 | Under 180
Odds courtesy of bet365
Kentucky vs Alabama betting trend to know
Despite some staggering totals, the Over is 6-2 in Alabama's last eight games while cashing in four-straight contests for Kentucky. Find more college basketball betting trends for Kentucky vs. Alabama.
How to watch Kentucky vs Alabama
| Location | Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN |
| Date | Friday, 3-14-2025 |
| Tip-off | 9:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | SEC Network |
Kentucky vs Alabama key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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