Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Kentucky Wildcats Prediction & Game Preview - 11/29/2021

by Chuck Sommers

Monday, Nov 29, 2021
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
Where to watch: ESPN+, SEC Network+

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Kentucky -30
BetMGM: Kentucky -28.5
Caesars: Kentucky -30

Season record
Central Michigan: 1-4
No. 10 Kentucky: 5-1

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Central Michigan - Kentucky preview and analysis


Recent form
Central Michigan: lost 76-69 vs. Bellarmine on Tuesday
Kentucky: won 86-52 vs. North Florida on Friday

The Kentucky Wildcats will look to win for the sixth time in seven games to begin the season when they host the Central Michigan Chippewas on Monday.

Kentucky has won five straight since losing its season opener to Duke, all by comfortable margins at home. The Wildcats are coming off a 32-point win over North Florida in which TyTy Washington led the way with 14 points and five rebounds. Sahvir Wheeler had 12 points but finished with 14 assists.

“We’re still a work in progress but this is what I liked. We fought and we defended,” said Kentucky coach John Calipari. “That’s what we did. We scrambled, we played, we came up with balls and we flew.”

The Wildcats have gone 3-3 against the spread to begin the season. Kentucky has been double-digit favorites against every team but the Blue Devils. This will be the first time the Wildcats will have been favored by 30 points in most books and the fifth time they’re favored by at least 20.

Central Michigan, meanwhile, is 0-3-1 in its last four against the spread and is coming off a 7-point loss to Bellarmine in Las Vegas. The Chippewas’ trip to Sin City did not end well, seeing how they’ve lost two straight -- including a 53-point loss to Gonzaga -- since winning their first game by one point against Eastern Illinois two weeks ago.

Harrison Henderson had a team-high 21 points on 7 of 13 shooting in 29 minutes while the Chips shot 45 percent from the floor. Bellarmine, meanwhile, shot 51 percent and took advantage of a very weak CMU defense that has given up 84.2 points per game through five contests. Seems like easy pickings for Kentucky.

Prediction


Central Michigan is losing by an average of 21 points a night, and while that’s not even close enough to get Kentucky to cover, I see UK getting a much-needed game in where it needs to win by a ton to feel better about it. It’ll come down to the final minutes, but Kentucky should get the win and cover. Kentucky by 32

Betting trends


Kentucky is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 following an ATS win.

Central Michigan is 4-1-1 in its last six ATS as a road dog.

Projected starting lineup


Central Michigan:
PG: Kevin Miller
SG: Oscar Lopez Jr.
SF:
Brian Taylor
PF:
Miroslav Stafl
C:
Harrison Henderson

Kentucky:
PG: Sahvir Wheeler
SG: TyTy Washington Jr.
SF:
Kellan Grady
PF:
Daimion Collins
C:
Oscar Tshiebwe

Statistical leaders


Central Michigan:
Points: Jermaine Jackson Jr. -- 13.6
Rebounds: Brian Taylor -- 5.2
Assists: Jermaine Jackson Jr. -- 3.0

Kentucky:
Points: TyTy Washington -- 14.8 
Rebounds: Oscar Tshiebwe -- 16.0
Assists: Sahvir Wheeler -- 9.2

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Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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