The Kentucky Wildcats and Texas Longhorns face off in a Saturday evening college basketball matchup today, as both teams look to boost their NCAA Tournament prospects.

Kentucky has been displaying one of the most exciting offenses in the nation, while Texas aims to recover from recent losses in the SEC.

This game has a chance to be high-scoring, with the total points line set at 158.5 at Novig. Let’s take a closer look at the matchup and discuss our #15 Kentucky vs. Texas picks.

 

 

 

#15 Kentucky vs. Texas Predictions For CBB On ESPN, 2/15

Kentucky enters this game ranked No. 15 in the country and recently secured a solid 75-64 win over Tennessee. With standout players like Otega Oweh (15.9 PPG) and Jaxson Robinson (13.3 PPG), they’re a really good offensive team, but improving their defense is crucial.

On the other hand, Texas is trying to bounce back from a tough stretch, having lost three consecutive games, including a noncompetitive 103-80 defeat to Alabama. Guard Tre Johnson leads the team with 19.3 points per game, but Texas will need Arthur Kaluma (12.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG) to elevate his game to keep pace with Kentucky’s high-powered offense.

Before we make our #15 Kentucky vs. Texas predictions, let’s break down a little more about each team.

 

 

 

Kentucky Wildcats: Led By Their Scoring

The Wildcats have a balanced attack, with five players scoring in double digits. They're especially lethal from beyond the arc, making 38.4% of their three-point shots, which puts them 17th in the country.

On the boards, they also perform well, averaging 35.4 rebounds per game, which ranks them 40th overall. However, their defense has been a bit shaky recently. They've allowed over 80 points in four of their last six games, including a tough 98-84 loss to Ole Miss.

Their perimeter defense has been hit or miss, currently sitting at 21st in three-point defense at 29.6%, and they struggle against quicker teams in transition. For Kentucky to secure a win on the road in our #15 Kentucky vs. Texas predictions, they really need to improve their defense and avoid getting into a shootout with Texas.

 

 

 

Texas Longhorns: Searching For Consistency

Texas can score a lot of points, but they struggle to stop their opponents from scoring. Their offense heavily depends on the aforementioned Johnson. However, their three-point shooting percentage is 36.7%, and their free throw percentage is 75.0%, which makes them a bit unpredictable.

On the defensive side, Texas has had a tough time against strong teams, giving up 103 points to Alabama and 86 to Vanderbilt in their last games. They rank 94th in opponent field goal percentage at 42.2%, which makes them vulnerable to teams with good shooters like UK – and is also something our #15 Kentucky vs. Texas predictions took note of.

To come out on top, Texas needs to control the game's tempo and limit fast-break opportunities for the Wildcats.

 

 

 

#15 Kentucky vs. Texas Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines

The below #15 Kentucky vs. Texas odds and betting lines were available at Novig at time of publishing:

  • Kentucky Wildcats (+131) vs. Texas Longhorns (-163)
    • Kentucky +3.5 (-123) vs. Texas -3.5 (+100)
    • Over 158.5 (-115) vs. Under 158.5 (-108)

 

 

 

#15 Kentucky vs. Texas Game Total: Over 158.5 (-115 at Novig)

Kentucky's high-scoring offense has really made waves this season, ranking near the top in scoring efficiency, while Texas has been pretty inconsistent as a team. Still, in this matchup, both teams’ weaknesses in defense will stand out, so siding with the over seems like the best bet.

Kentucky has been part of a ton of high-scoring games lately, with four out of their last six games going over 158 total points. They’ve had some exciting matchups, too, like their 106-100 victory against Florida and a close 97-102 loss to Alabama.

Texas has also been in some high-scoring games, with their last two games going well over the total, including a 103-80 loss to Alabama. The Longhorns can score a ton against a defense like UK, which means they can keep up with Kentucky, yet their defensive issues might let the Wildcats control the game.

With Kentucky’s potent offense and Texas’ recent struggles on defense, this game is likely to be a fast-paced shootout. Both teams will probably try to score a lot, relying on their best scorers to lead them to victory, so the over 158.5 (-115 at Novig) seems like the best option for our #15 Kentucky vs. Texas picks.

 

 

 

#15 Kentucky vs. Texas Injury Report & Starting Lineup

Kentucky Wildcats Injuries

  • G - L. Butler | Questionable: Shoulder
  • G - J. Robinson | Questionable: Wrist
  • G - K. Kriisa | Out: Foot

Kentucky Wildcats Starters Last Game

  • G - O. Oweh (15.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG)
  • F - A. Almonar (6.1 PPG, 44.3 3PT%)
  • G - L. Butler (12.5 PPG, 4.6 APG)
  • G - K. Brea (10.8 PPG, 45.3 3PT%)
  • C - A. Williams (10.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG)

Texas Longhorns Injuries

  • F - D. Pryor | Questionable: Undisclosed
  • G - C. Weaver | Questionable: Hip

Texas Longhorns Starters Last Game

  • G - T. Johnson (19.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG)
  • G - T. Mark (8.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG)
  • G - J. Larry (5.6 PPG, 3.6 APG)
  • F - A. Kaluma (12.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG)
  • F - C. Weaver (6.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG)

 

 

 

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Looking for more expert analysis? Our college basketball predictions for some of today's other games are also live!