This weekend features some important college hoops games, starting with Kentucky’s visit to Tennessee on Saturday. The Wildcats (10-6, 1-3 SEC) continue to struggle uncharacteristically under John Calipari, and that continued on Tuesday as Kentucky lost by three at home to South Carolina. That same South Carolina team, by the way, lost to George Washington by 24. A Kentucky fan was taken out of the game by security for holding up a sign that said “Please Go to Texas,” directed at Calipari. Tennessee is a legit Final Four contender, so this could be another ugly game for the Wildcats. Is Calipari’s time in Kentucky finally winding down? We also have some NCAA Basketball betting picks from Friday night’s action for you to consider.
NCAA News: Top Basketball Bets for January 13
Villanova Wildcats (-1.5) at Butler Bulldogs (O/U 132.5) (7:00 pm ET)
Villanova (8-9) has struggled to maintain that Final Four contender status in the program’s first season after the retirement of coach Jay Wright. Their Big East record (2-4) is also uncharacteristically poor. They were up by a point at DePaul in their last game, but the hosts put up a surge in the second half and ended up beating Villanova by 10. Eric Dixon posted 22 points and 10 rebounds in the loss, and Cam Whitmore added 16, but that was not enough to keep DePaul from beating Villanova for the first time in their last 23 tries. Villanova is still elite in ball security, ranking 13th in the nation in fewest turnovers, but their three-point shooting, long an asset under Wright, is just 208th in the nation this season.
Butler (10-8) is also struggling in Big East play with a 2-5 record so far. They headed east for a two-game swing last week and lost both games, falling at Seton Hall and then to St. John’s, 77-61, on Tuesday. St. John’s led by 10 at the intermission, and Butler could not eat into that lead, perhaps because of the 22 turnovers they committed as a team. Chuck Harris led the team with 17 points, going 4 of 7 from behind th earc. Simus Lukosius added 15 points, and Ali Ali scored 10, but this made Butler 0-8 in games in which they were behind at the half. Butler to cover.
Michigan State Spartans (+6.5) at Illinois Fighting Illini (O/U 136.5) (9:00 pm ET)
Michigan State (12-4) made it seven straight wins on Tuesday, as they held off #18 Wisconsin on the road, and their Big Ten record is now 4-1. Michigan State opened up a 6-0 lead in that game, and that was the largest lead either team would hold all night. The Spartans led by two at the intermission but were down by five with 4:14 remaining in regulation before rallying for the win, finishing on a 15-6 run. Shooting was a strength (52.3% overall, 7 of 13 from three-point and and 16 of 17 from the charity stripe), as was rebounding, as they grabbed 33 boards to just 18 for the Badgers. Joey Hauser was the top scorer with 20 points, and he also pulled down eight rebounds. This a defense-first team, as they are ranked 72nd in the nation in scoring defense (permitting 64.9 points per game) but just 214th in scoring offense (70.3 points per game).
Illinois (11-5) has won two in a row and four of six after beating Nebraska on the road; their Big Ten mark is now 2-3. Nebraska grabbed an early 7-5 lead before Illinois went on a 9-0 run to take a seven-point advantage, and the Illini never gave the lead back. Illinois went into the locker room up by 11 at halftime, and Nebrasks could only get as close as five after that. The last Nebraska run got the Cornhuskers within six, but then the Illini posted a 21-6 run to go up 55-35, and that was it. On the night, Illinois shot 45.9% from the floor, making 8 of 29 three-point shots, and they outrebounded Nebraska, 41-33. Terrence Shannon Jr was the top scorer with 25, and he also added 11 boards, four steals and four assists. Illinois is 74th in the nation in scoring offense (76.9 points per game) and is 31st in rebounding (39.5 boards per game). Their defense ranks 51st (permitting 63.8 points per game). Even so, I see the Spartans making this a close one. Michigan State to cover.
College Basketball Betting Odds
Love betting NCAA basketball? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date college basketball lines
