"Can Big Blue make the Final Four?" Wind it out and let it play because that's the sort of question you get whenever Kentucky enters a new college basketball season. The Wildcats are #23 in the polls, but when you're one of the sport's historic blue bloods, expectations tend to transcend reality. I can assure you that if Kentucky gets off to a hot start and collects a few noteworthy wins, that question will quickly become, "Can the Cats cut down the nets in April?" That may start after Tuesday and that's the Kentucky experience, ladies and gentlemen. With that comes a considerable premium attached to the Wildcats' name and logo. UK enters this contest 1-0 following a thumping of an overmatched Manhattan College outfit, while James Madison arrives having lost its opener to Miami (OH). Put those ingredients together, and you're going to pay a serious tax to back Big Blue here.
But here's where things get interesting. Kentucky has a massive showdown with #17 Kansas looming on Tuesday night in Chicago, and you can bet Ashley Judd and company already have their sights set on that occasion. The Wildcats are being asked to cover more than 25 points against James Madison with a huge marquee matchup just around the corner. That's a considerable number to lay when the favorite has bigger fish to fry. What we have here is a team commanding a premium because of its reputation, playing in a spot where its attention could already be drifting toward the Jayhawks. Kentucky should win this game comfortably, but winning and covering an inflated spread are two entirely different propositions. I'll gladly take the points.
James Madison vs Kentucky prediction: James Madison Dukes +25.5 (-108) available at time of publishing. Playable to +24.5.
