Florida at Kentucky (-9 ½, 142) & Purdue at Ohio State (-14 ½, 130) Break Downs

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Florida at Kentucky:

The Wildcats are back in the top spot in both the AP and Coaches Poll after blowing out South Carolina on Saturday. Kentucky (21-1, 9-0 SEC) covered for the fourth straight game with the 34-point rout in Columbia, as the 'Cats battle Florida on Tuesday. The Gators (19-4, 7-1 SEC) are riding a seven-game winning streak following a 73-65 victory over Vanderbilt.

For the exception of a buzzer-beating loss at Indiana in December, John Calipari's squad has dominated this season, while winning 15 consecutive games since that setback in Bloomington. During this hot streak, UK has picked up 12 victories by double-digits, including seven of those in conference play. The Wildcats burned bettors for a nice stretch by failing to cover 13 straight games from late November until mid-January. However, Kentucky is rolling lately with four covers in a row, even though each opponent will not make the NCAA Tournament (Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, and South Carolina).

The Wildcats face a stout opponent in Billy Donovan's Gators, who invade Rupp Arena off three straight home wins over Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. Florida owns a 4-4 ATS record in SEC play, while being favored in each of those contests. The last time the Gators were listed as an underdog, UF cashed at the Carrier Dome in a 72-68 defeat as seven-point 'dogs against Syracuse in early December. In fact, the Gators are 2-0 ATS when receiving points this season, but are winless in those contests, including a loss at Ohio State in November.

The two teams split the regular season series in 2011 with the home squad winning each time. Kentucky captured the SEC Tournament crown in Atlanta by defeating Florida, 70-54 as short underdogs. The Gators had only one player in double-figures, while being held to 39% shooting from the floor. The last time Kentucky fell at home to Florida was 2007, but the Wildcats cashed as 3 ½-point home 'dogs in a 64-61 loss.

Purdue at Ohio State:

Two teams going in different directions meet up in Columbus as Ohio State looks for a sixth consecutive win. The Buckeyes (20-3, 8-3 Big 10) are fresh off a 58-52 victory at Wisconsin on Saturday as 3 ½-point favorites, their fifth straight cover. OSU hosts a Purdue (15-8, 5-5 Big 10) squad that has dropped three of four, including a 17-point home loss to rival Indiana.

The Buckeyes are 7-1 ATS the previous eight games, while going a perfect 6-0 ATS the last six opportunities as double-digit favorites. To show how dominant this team has been at home, Thad Matta's group is winning by an average of 24 points per game in conference action at Value City Arena. Ohio State has failed to cover twice at home, but both ATS losses were by close margins as the Buckeyes held off Florida, 81-74 as 7 ½-point 'chalk,' and Lamar in a 20-point triumph as 22-point favorites.

Purdue suffered several close losses in non-conference play with defeats to Xavier and Butler, falling by a combined seven points. A 2-0 start in Big 10 play when down the drain when Matt Painter's team lost five of its next eight games. The Boilermakers are 3-2 SU and 2-3 ATS in five conference road contests, including victories at Iowa, Minnesota, and Northwestern.

The home squads won each meeting last season, as OSU dominated Purdue in Columbus, 87-64 as 7 ½-point favorites. The Boilermakers have taken four of the previous six meetings,

Info Complements of
Kevin Rogers