It is an SEC battle as Missouri visits sixth-ranked Kentucky. It is time to continue our college basketball odds series with a Missouri-Kentucky prediction, pick, and how-to-watch.

Missouri enters the game at 8-6 on the year, but 0-1 in SEC play. They have struggled as of late against some higher-quality competition. They have lost four of their last five games, falling to Kansas, Seton Hall, Illinois, and Georgia. Missouri did get one win, but that was against Central Arkansas, Missouri won by 33 over them.

Meanwhile, Kentucky comes in sitting at 11-2 on the year. After two opening wins, they would suffer their first loss of the year against a top-ranked Kansas team. It was a close game though, with Kentucky falling by just five. After winning four more, they were upset by UNC Wilmington 80-73. Since then, they have won five straight, including wins over North Carolina, Louisville, and Florida.

Here are the college basketball odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

College Basketball Odds: Missouri-Kentucky Odds

Missouri: +11.5 (-102)

Moneyline: +550

Kentucky: -11.5 (-120)

Moneyline: -820

Over: 162.5 (-110)

Under: 162.5 (-110)

How to Watch Missouri vs. Kentucky 

Time: 7:00 PM ET/ 4:00 PM PT

TV: ESPN

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why Missouri Will Cover The Spread

Missouri comes in ranked 102nd in KenPom's adjusted efficiency rankings this year. They rank 74th on offense, but 142nd in adjusted defensive efficiency. Missouri is 97th in the nation in points scored per game while sitting 39th in three-point attempts per game, and 50th in threes made. The offense is led by Sean East II. He comes in with 17.1 points per game while shooting well. He is shooting 55.4 percent from the floor, while also shooting 53.8 percent from three this year. East is also the leader in assists per game, with 3.9 assists per game this year.

Joining him in shooting well is Tamar Bates. Bates averages just 10.2 points per game but is shooting 53.3 percent from the floor, while also shooting 53.1 percent from three this year. He has taken care of the ball well too, with under a turnover per game.

On the glass, Missouri is 243rd in rebounds per game.  This is led by Noah Carter. He comes into the game with 6.3 rebounds per game to go with his 11.5 points per game. Joining him is Caleb Grill, who has 5.8 rebounds per game this year. Further, Aidan Shaw has 4.1 rebounds per game, while coming in off the bench.

On defense, there are some positives. While Missouri sits 152nd in points allowed per game, they are seventh in blocks per game, while sitting 32nd in steals per game. It is Shaw who leads the way here too. He has 1.7 blocks per game this year, while Noah Carter has 1.0 blocks per game. Anthony Robinson II has been great at creating turnovers, with 1.7 steals per game this year.

Why Kentucky Will Cover The Spread

Kentucky ranks 17th in KenPom's adjusted efficiency rankings this year. They are ranked eighth on offensive efficiency, but sit 43rd in adjusted defensive efficiency. Kentucky is third in the nation in points per game this year. They are second in assists-to-turnover ratio while sitting tenth in effective field goal percentage. Austin Reeves has led the way on offense. He has 19.0 points per game this year while shooting well. Reeves is shooting 52 percent from the field this year. He is one of five players scoring over ten points per game while shooting over 42 percent this year. The top shooter percentage has been Reed Sheppard. He is shooting 57.4 percent from the field while averaging 12.6 points per game.

The Rebounding for Kentucky has been solid. They are 63rd in the nation in rebounds per game, but they are 14th in the nation in defensive rebounds per game.  The Mitchell has been solid here. He is averaging 7.3 rebounds per game, while also scoring 12.7 points per game this year.

Kentucky has not been great on defense. They are 215th in points allowed per game, but they do get some defensive presence down low. Kentucky is 15th in the nation in blocks per game and tied for 32nd in steals per game. Ugonna Onyenso has been great on defense when in the lineup. He is averaging two blocks per game since returning to the lineup.

Final Missouri-Kentucky Prediction & Pick

Kentuck is the far better team in this game. They are better on both sides of the court and move the ball better. Further, Missouri has been awful at rebounding all year long, while Kentucky is one of the best in the nation in defensive rebounding. Unless Missouri can be much more effecient in their shots, they will have very little hope of keeping in this game as they lose the rebounding battle. This will be a comfortable double-digit win for Kentucky.

Final Missouri-Kentucky Prediction & Pick: Kentucky -11.5 (-120)