The highly anticipated Battle in Seattle is here, with #4 Kentucky set to face #7 Gonzaga. Kentucky is coming off its first loss of the season and traveling across the country to play in the Zags’ home environment. ESPN’s BPI projections give this game a 95.9 rating, indicating it’s expected to be a thrilling matchup between two of the nation’s top teams.
However, the odds are stacked against Kentucky, with Vegas placing the spread at 6.5 in favor of Gonzaga. ESPN’s analytics give the Bulldogs a 59.3% chance to win, while college basketball expert Evan Miyakawa predicts a 65.6% chance for Gonzaga to win by five points. Many experts are leaning towards a Gonzaga victory, citing Kentucky’s recent loss to Clemson, the long cross-country travel, the time zone difference, and concerns over Lamont Butler’s health. These factors have left many Kentucky fans feeling pessimistic about their team’s chances.
Justin Rowland of CatsIllustrated.com polled Kentucky fans for their score predictions, and the first ten responses all favored Gonzaga. Out of 91 total replies, the majority predicted a Zags win, with many fans emphasizing the importance of Butler’s availability.
While many fans are down on Kentucky’s prospects, not all of Big Blue Nation is discouraged. Some are hopeful, predicting the Wildcats could surprise Gonzaga, much like they did with Duke. Even respected college basketball expert Jon Rothstein believes Kentucky could pull off an upset.
There are also fans who are ready to hold onto these predictions, eager to celebrate and “rub it in” if Kentucky defies expectations and wins.
The game promises to be a classic and is sure to be an exciting watch. Tip-off is at 10 pm EST on ESPN2, so don’t miss out—regardless of the late hour.
