The Kentucky Wildcats take on the Missouri Tigers in Columbia, MO. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Missouri is favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -250. The total is set at 170 points.
Here are my Kentucky vs. Missouri predictions and college basketball picks for March 8, 2025.
Kentucky vs Missouri Prediction
My Pick: Missouri -4.5 (Play to -5.5)
My Kentucky vs Missouri best bet is on the Tigers spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Kentucky vs Missouri Odds, Lines
| Kentucky Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -110 | 170 -110o / -110u | +205 |
| Missouri Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -110 | 170 -110o / -110u | -250 |
- Kentucky vs Missouri spread: Missouri -5.5
- Kentucky vs Missouri over/under: 170 points
- Kentucky vs Missouri moneyline: Missouri -250, Kentucky +205
- Kentucky vs Missouri best bet: Missouri -4.5 (Play to -5.5)
My Kentucky vs Missouri NCAAB Betting Preview
On Tuesday, I covered the Kentucky Wildcats' matchup against the LSU Tigers, and that went as planned. Kentucky nearly hit triple digits, and LSU did its part, helping the over cash.
Now, the Wildcats will face a big step up in competition against the No. 15 Missouri Tigers.
The Tigers play a similar brand of ball as Kentucky. They're hyper-efficient offensively, ranking fourth in adjusted offensive efficiency and 10th in effective field-goal percentage.
However, the Tigers are a tough task for the Wildcats, presenting a balanced attack that can exploit Kentucky's defense at all three levels.
Starting in the paint, Kentucky ranks 279th in defensive 2-point percentage, and the majority of that damage has come in the painted area.
Missouri generates over 39% of its offense from inside the paint and ranks 16th in 2-point percentage. These high-percentage looks will keep the Tigers offense flowing regardless of the tempo in this matchup.
But it doesn't stop there. Missouri is also proficient from beyond the arc.
The Tigers rank 28th in 3-point percentage, and while the Wildcats are 15th in defensive 3-point percentage, they allow their opposition to take a lot of 3s, ranking 322nd in defensive 3-point rate.
Missouri has all the answers on the offensive end of the floor, which means it should string together some runs in this matchup.
Now, the Tigers must contain the Wildcats on the offensive end to create separation on the scoreboard, and that's much easier said than done. Kentucky has been an offensive juggernaut this season, ranking ninth in adjusted offensive efficiency while playing at the 28th-fastest tempo in the nation.
A theme in nearly all of Kentucky's losses has been struggles from beyond the arc. While the Cats aren't a high-volume 3-point shooting team, they're backcourt-dominant when it comes to scoring options. That backcourt has to prove it can stretch the floor.
The Tigers aren't elite at defending perimeter shots, but they've shown that they can contain shooters and cause havoc in the passing lanes when teams try to penetrate inside.
Missouri may not have all the answers on the defensive end, but its edges on the offensive end can make up for it. It should be extremely efficient offensively in this one, and that will amplify every stop it gets on the other end of the floor.
This very well could be a game where these teams go score-for-score, but ultimately, the Tigers should pull away at some point. Back them to cover the spread.
