Super Tuesday Tilts

The University of Kentucky is ranked third and Michigan State is fifth in the last updated Top 25 poll and each could be in for a real test on Tuesday night. The Wildcats responded nicely from their first loss of the season vanquishing Vanderbilt 85-72 as 8.5-point favorites and they stay in Lexington to host Ole Miss. Wisconsin gives everyone a problem, especially at the Kohl Center, which the Spartans will have to deal with this evening.

For Kentucky, size does matter

The Wildcats tested fate and were finally burned at South Carolina, which gave them their initial loss of the season. Kentucky (20-1, 10-9 ATS) had often built nice leads, all but given them away and been Clutch Cargo at winning time. The necessary plays have come from a variety of competitors, each entrusted by coach John Calipari to come thru when needed. Coach Cal got after his guys to make sure they play a complete game and they never let Vanderbilt build any real confidence in cruising to victory. Big Blue has a big advantage in this matchup with DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton having too much size and skill for the Rebels small front court to match. Calipari coached teams are 28-12 ATS versus offensive teams scoring 77 or more points a game after 15 contests have been played on the season.

Ole Miss (16-5, 11-6 ATS) was picked second in the SEC West and is meeting expectations and hopes to play the role of giant killer in Lexington. The strength of the Rebels is in the guard positions, led by leading scorer Chris Warren. For the Rebels to shock the nation, collectively, this group is going to have to play near perfect, disrupting Kentucky’s offense along with hitting a higher than expected number of shots, since they fight a losing battle on the glass being too small. Mississippi is 3-13 and 7-9 ATS against the Wildcats since 1997.

Mississippi suffered a deflating 80- 73 loss at home to Arkansas, which was delayed one day because of weather issues in Oxford Saturday. That meant one less day to prepare for Kentucky and more tired bodies. The Rebels are 10.5-point underdogs with total of 153 at Bookmaker.com. The most positive news is Ole Miss is 12-4 ATS in road games over the last two seasons and will have come up with strategy-filled (junk) defense to inhibit Cousins in particular.

Sensational freshman guard John Wall caused a stir in the Blue Grass state this past week wondering why his coach was singling him out since in his own words he was playing “OK”. Wall certainly has likely been told his whole basketball life how wonderful he is and Calipari has seen a dip in his production and was trying to motivate him, something he’s not had to deal with. Reports are everything is cool between them and Kentucky is 5-1 and 2-4 ATS at Rupp Arena since 1998 against the Rebels. Game One on Super Tuesday starts at 7 Eastern.

Sparty winning, but not making friends with bettors

Michigan State (19-3, 8-13 ATS) is a perfect 9-0 in the Big Ten, holding a comfortable three game lead over four teams that have three losses. It would be overstating the facts that this has been breeze, especially on the road lately. The Spartans have maneuvered by Minnesota and Michigan by a single digit in each case, trailing the vast majority of each contest. Leading scorer Kalin Lucas was the difference in each ballgame from a team coach Tom Izzo seeks more consistency. Michigan State has won 12 of last 13 Big Ten road games and is 15-4 ATS as visitor playing only their second game in a week over the last two seasons.

Wisconsin is off near upset at Purdue, losing 70-67, having two chances inside final 10 seconds to take the lead. The Badgers (16-5, 11-8 ATS) have been coping without their big man Jon Leuer, however if Keaton Nankivil can shoot the ball anywhere close to last outing (career high 25 points) he improves the chances of Wisconsin handing Spartans their first conference loss. The Badgers have won 17 in a row in Madison (9-6 ATS) and are 31-13 ATS in home games versus good passing teams, averaging 16 or more assists a contest.

The Badgers are part of a contingent in second place in the Big Ten and are a 2.5-point favorite, with total of 123, having won six straight over the Spartans at home (5-1 ATS). Michigan State is 1-4 ATS in last five contests and 1-9 ATS after eight or more consecutive wins over the last three seasons. Wisconsin lost at East Lansing 54-47 on Jan. 6 and is 8-0 UNDER revenging a loss after scoring fewer than 50 points. Bucky Badger is 27-12 ATS as a home favorite of six points or less or pick, while Izzo’s club is 39-23 UNDER when the total is 120 to 129.5.

This anticipated Big Ten battle starts at 9 Eastern or right after the SEC televised showdown.