UCL x CBB
Phil Foden 1+ shot on goal/Kentucky ML (-130)
Riding the wave that is Phil Foden who has been on fire recently in all competitions. In the L5 games Foden has 18 shots, 8 of them on goal and 3 goals. Foden also 1+ shot on goal in 15 of the L19 games and has 3+ shots in 5 of the L6 games. Touching on Foden’s Champions League stats from the group stage, he has 6 shots on goal in 6 games and a shot on target in 4 of those 6 games.
With Haaland back in the lineup drawing the majority of the attention from the opposing defense and De Bruyne back in the midfield I see no reason why Foden shouldn’t have a ton of chances this afternoon. I don’t love that he is playing on the right wing, would rather see him up the middle but I still think he will get his with the Manchester City offense operating on the level that it currently is.
Onto college basketball and backing a Kentucky team that has struggled over the past two weeks. Kentucky is just 1-3 in their L4 games and in my opinion, it is due to the absence of DJ Wagner, the freshman PG. Wagners stats aren’t all that great, averaging just 11.5 PPG and 3.6 APG but it’s something about his presence that carries this Wildcats team. The good news is that he returned off the bench on Saturday against Gonzaga, only played 14 minutes but him being back on the court was a good sign.
Despite losing 3 of the L4 Kentucky’s offense has still been clicking, scoring 89+ in 10 of the L13 games and averaging 98.7 PPG in the four games that Wagner missed. Also, although Ole Miss is 18-5 on the year, they don’t have a ton of good wins, UCF is the only team you could argue was a good win and even their record is just over .500 at 13-9.
Ole Miss has lost to Tennessee (by 26), LSU (by 9), Auburn (by 23), Auburn again (by 14), and South Carolina (by 3). Every ranked opponent Ole Miss has faced they have come out with a loss. I think we are getting Kentucky in a great spot here, off a couple bad losses and in a somewhat manageable number on the moneyline.
I just don’t think Ole Miss is good enough to keep up with a Kentucky offense averaging 91.9 PPG at home when they are only scoring 71.8 PPG on the road and averaging 67.8 PPG in their L6 road games. This Kentucky offense has proved they’re a wagon and should pull away from an overrated Ole Miss team. GL.
