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Kentucky vs. Kansas live stream, odds and prediction: How to bet and watch

By Mike Phillips

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 25: Terrence Clarke #5 of the Kentucky Wildcats dribbles the ball against the Morehead State Eagles at Rupp Arena on November 25, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 25: Terrence Clarke #5 of the Kentucky Wildcats dribbles the ball against the Morehead State Eagles at Rupp Arena on November 25, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Kansas and Kentucky are set to face off in Indianapolis during the Champions Classic.

Every program hopes to get off to a fast start in college basketball, but that doesn’t always happen. Kansas ran into some big issues in their first contest, getting beaten up by Gonzaga, while Kentucky suffered a big upset at home to Richmond, the favorite to win the A-10.

As a result, both schools are 1-1 entering their matchup in the State Farm Champions Classic, setting up a massive game in Indianapolis. One of the week’s top matchups, this showdown in Indianapolis could be a difference-maker once the selection committee seeds the NCAA Tournament in March.

Kansas enters this contest off a win, topping St. Joe’s 94-72 down in Fort Myers on Saturday. Big man Christian Braun had a huge day down low, racking up 30 points and nine rebounds as he averaged 19 points per game over the Jayhawks’ first two contests.

Kentucky has rolled out yet another freshmen-filled lineup, headlined by Brandon Boston and Terrence Clarke, who have combined to average 31 points per game over the Wildcats’ first two games. There are often growing pains with a young lineup, which Kentucky learned the hard way against an experienced Richmond squad, which outscored the Wildcats 48-32 after the break to pull away with a convincing 12-point road win.

These two teams last met in the Big 12-SEC Challenge back in 2019, with Kentucky scoring an eight-point win at Rupp Arena. This matchup will take place on a neutral floor in Indianapolis, meaning it could really be anyone’s ballgame. The key to this matchup will be how effectively Kentucky is able to shake off the bitter taste from the Richmond defeat in order to get up for a big-time opponent like Kansas.

How to watch and bet on Kentucky vs. Kansas

  • Date: Tuesday, Dec. 1
  • Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Indianapolis, IN
  • Venue: Banker’s Life Fieldhouse
  • TV: ESPN
  • Live Stream: WatchESPN
  • Odds: Kansas -3.5 (FanDuel)
  • Prediction: 83-80 Kansas

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