Miami vs. Kentucky odds, props, predictions: Two of nation's top offensive teams clash Tuesday

With the college football regular season wrapping up, where should sports bettors and fans turn for midweek action? Look no further than college basketball for excellent matchups daily between ranked teams.

Tuesday night has one of the best matchups of the non-conference season, with the undefeated Miami Hurricanes traveling to play the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena. UK is the early favorite playing home, but a single-digit spread suggests this will be a tight one.

The Wildcats have only played one game this season with a single-digit spread, a loss to Kansas, but Kentucky did cover vs. the Jayhawks. Since the loss, John Calipari's squad has won three in a row, only covering once. The Wildcats have hit the over total points in their last four contests, averaging almost 100 points per game. 

Miami started the season 3-0 against non-Power Five schools but stayed hot even against stronger competition. Miami beat Georgia, followed by an eight-point win over Kansas State. Odds favorites in both matchups, the Hurricanes covered against the Bulldogs and Wildcats. Miami is 4-1 against the spread, making them one of the best spread bets in college basketball right now.

Live odds for Miami vs. Kentucky

Check out the live spread, moneyline and total points odds for the Hurricanes vs. Wildcats top-25 matchup at the top online sportsbooks.

More college hoops betting: Best College Basketball Betting Sites & Apps 2023

Miami Hurricanes betting news

The Hurricanes are 4-1 against the spread and 4-1 hitting overs on total points. Miami is playing really well and scoring a ton. The area where they could improve is defensively. In the Hurricanes' three games with single-digit spreads, Miami has allowed no less than 68 points. 

Winning shootouts makes for exciting basketball but can make Miami vulnerable if they have an off-shooting night. The Hurricanes' Kenpom stats are proof, as they are the 11th-ranked team in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency but rank 101st in adjusted defensive efficiency. 

Miami's offense is one of the best in college basketball and very difficult to stop, as the defense can't focus on any single player. The Hurricanes have five players averaging double figures, and four of the five are over 15.8 ppg. Wooga Poplar leads the team with 18 ppg, but Matthew Cleveland (16.8 ppg), Nijel Pack (16 ppg) and Morchad Omier (15.8 ppg) are close behind.

Poplar (59.4%) and Cleveland (50%) make more threes than they miss — and not on limited attempts. The team's two leading scorers are averaging over nine threes taken per game, with over five makes in each contest. The Wildcats will have to run the Hurricanes off the three-point line because if Miami gets to their over 10 threes per game average, Kentucky will be ripe for an upset.

Kentucky Wildcats betting news

The Wildcats are off to a decent start, but their only game with a single-digit spread this season was a loss to Kansas. John Calipari's teams are always full of talented underclassmen, often leading to early-season struggles as the young players take time to grow. Don't overlook Kentucky, though, as they are as talented as any team in the country — and they're playing at home in Rupp Arena.

Calipari teams focus on defense first, and the offense typically gets better throughout the season as the young players grow up. This year's team is the opposite, as they currently rank No. 6 in Kenpom's adjusted offensive efficiency rankings and only 66th in defense. 

Just looked at the team stats, though, and that is not surprising, with six players averaging double figures, led by Antonio Reeves, scoring 19 points on average. What is incredible is that four of the six players averaging double figures are freshmen. The young team will only get better, and regardless of Tuesday night's outcomes, this Kentucky team may be the most talented Calipari has ever had.

Miami vs. Kentucky props bets at Caesars Sportsbook

Nijel Pack prop bets

• 16.5 points OVER (-107) / under (-137)
• 3.5 rebounds OVER (-113) / under (-129)
• 2.5 assists OVER (-164) / under (+111)

Matthew Cleveland prop bets

• 15.5 points OVER (-111) / UNDER (-131)
• 5.5 rebounds OVER (-137) / UNDER (-107)
• 2.5 assists OVER (+110) / UNDER (-161)

Norchad Omier prop bets

• 14.5 points OVER (-127) / UNDER (-115)
• 9.5 rebounds OVER (+102) / UNDER (-149)
• 1.5 assists OVER (-115) / UNDER (-127)

Wooga Poplar prop bets

• 14.5 points OVER (-123) / UNDER (-119)
• 5.5 rebounds OVER (-123) / UNDER (-119)
• 1.5 assists OVER (+104) / UNDER (-152)

Antonio Reeves prop bets 

• 18.5 points OVER (-131) / UNDER (-111)
• 4.5 rebounds OVER (-119) / UNDER (-123)

D.J. Wagner prop bets

• 14.5 points OVER (-131) / UNDER (-111)
• 2.5 rebounds OVER (-141) / UNDER (-104)
• 3.5 assists OVER (-107) / UNDER (-137)

Tre Mitchell prop bets

• 13.5 points OVER (-123) / UNDER (-117)
• 6.5 rebounds OVER (-123) / UNDER (-119)
• 3.5 assists OVER (+120) / UNDER (-178)

Miami vs. Kentucky prediction: Must-watch game should be fast-paced

This game has an Elite Eight-matchup feel with two teams boasting so much talent. It is hard to pick which team will cover, much less win, as one or two big three-pointers could flip this game in either team's direction. Regardless of the winner, this will be a high-scoring game, and both teams have hit over on total points in four of their last five games.

Pick: Over