The Kentucky Wildcats take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Alabama is favored by 11.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -650. The total is set at 180 points.
Here are my Kentucky vs. Alabama predictions and college basketball picks for February 22, 2025.
Kentucky vs Alabama Prediction
Pick: Kentucky +10.5 (Play to +4.5)
My Kentucky vs Alabama best bet is on the Wildcats spread, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Kentucky vs Alabama Odds, Spread
| Kentucky Wildcats Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+12 -112 | 180.5 -110o / -110u | +410 |
| Alabama Crimson Tide Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-12 -109 | 180.5 -110o / -110u | -590 |
- Kentucky vs Alabama spread: Alabama -12
- Kentucky vs Alabama over/under: 180 points
- Kentucky vs Alabama moneyline: Alabama -590, Kentucky +410
- Kentucky vs Alabama pick: Kentucky +10.5 (Play to +4.5)
My Kentucky vs Alabama College Basketball Betting Preview
No. 4 Alabama hosts No. 17 Kentucky in a matchup of ranked SEC teams on Saturday.
Alabama is coming off back-to-back losses to No. 1 Auburn and No. 15 Missouri for its first multi-game losing streak of the season. The Tide are now tied with Florida for the second in the conference, so the pressure to maintain pace is tangible.
Kentucky is 5-5 in its last 10 games but most recently routed Vanderbilt, 82-61.
Expect a high-scoring shootout between two teams ranked in the top five nationally in scoring. Alabama leads the nation at 90.6 points per game, while Kentucky ranks fifth at 85.8.
Alabama defeated Kentucky, 102-97, in the last meeting on Jan. 18.
Grant Nelson notched a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Crimson Tide in that game, while Otega Oweh finished with 21 points for the Wildcats. Both teams converted double-digit 3-pointers (Alabama 13, Kentucky 11).
The biggest difference, though, came at the foul line. Alabama converted 29 free throws — 13 more than Kentucky.
But this time around, Kentucky could be limited in its rotation. Starting guards Lamont Butler (shoulder) and Jaxson Robinson (wrist) are making progress, but it seems unlikely either will return against Alabama.
For the Wildcats to have any chance of an upset, they'll need to drain plenty of 3-pointers and limit Nelson from a repeat performance. Mark Sears scored 35 points in Alabama's last game, so he'll have to be a focal point of Kentucky's defense as well.
Alabama is also commanding on the boards. The Crimson Tide rank second nationally in rebounds at 44 per game.
Bama's perimeter defense from Sears, Aden Holloway and Labaron Philon will also stifle Kentucky's sharpshooters.
Kentucky will gut it out to give Alabama a close call and cover the spread, but the Crimson Tide will still squeak out a home victory to get back in the win column.
