It is never fun to draw a No. 1 seed in March Madness. They have been the undisputed best teams in the country all year long, and the sheer talent gap on the women's side usually presents a massive problem for anyone before the Elite 8.
Heading into this year's NCAA Tournament, No. 1 seeds boasted a terrifying 475-101 all-time record, collecting 23 national championships.
That historical record is incredibly daunting for anyone. If Kenny Brooks and the Kentucky Wildcats want to advance past the Sweet 16 and keep their magical season alive, the odds show they have an absolute mountain to climb in Fort Worth.
Overcoming the massive Vegas disrespect
Before March Madness officially tipped off, Kenny Brooks confidently told the media he believed this team still had a lot of basketball left to play. He was absolutely right.
This is the first Sweet 16 appearance for the Wildcats since 2016, and despite 24 seasons as a head coach, it is only the second time Brooks has navigated a team this deep into the bracket. But while Brooks admitted he is too exhausted to fully enjoy the moment, the oddsmakers in the desert are not giving his squad much of a chance to rest, either.
FanDuel currently has Kentucky listed as massive +14.5 point underdogs.
Odds are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are liable to change at anytime.
On the surface, that line feels entirely disrespectful. This is the exact same Kentucky team that played Texas down to the wire in Austin earlier this year, trailing by just three points in the fourth quarter before ultimately losing by 11. The Wildcats committed a disastrous 23 turnovers in that matchup. If they simply hold onto the basketball, that game is a coin flip down the stretch.
But as the old saying goes, neither of these teams is the exact same squad they were back then.
Surviving the Texas buzzsaw
While Kentucky has found its stride, Texas has morphed into an absolute, undeniable buzzsaw.
Since suffering a 16-point loss to Vanderbilt on February 12th, the Longhorns have been on a historic tear, rattling off 10 consecutive victories. Outside of a tight, two-point survival against Tennessee in Knoxville and a 7-point win over Alabama, Texas has spent the last month completely dismantling the competition.
They aren't just winning games; they are destroying teams. Texas has recorded a 50-point obliteration of Mississippi State, a 42-point blowout against Oregon in the NCAA Tournament, a 32-point win over Missouri State, and a 29-point drubbing of Georgia. They even handed powerhouse South Carolina a 17-point loss to win the SEC Tournament final.
This is not a team that is going to make careless mistakes and beat themselves. If Kentucky wants to advance to the Elite Eight, it is going to have to go out and take it by force.
Despite the terrifying momentum Texas brings to the floor right now, this Wildcats team has a legitimate chance. They possess the sheer physical size required to bang with the Longhorns in the paint and protect the glass. They won the rebounding battle down in Austin. But it is the shooting that has to be center.
That largely will come down to Amelia Hassett and Asia Boone. If those two can catch fire from deep and stretch the Texas defense, Kentucky has the offensive firepower to win this basketball game. If the three-point shots aren't falling, that 14.5-point line might not be nearly big enough.
Official Prediction: Texas survives, but Kentucky covers the spread.
Final Score: Kentucky 65, Texas 73
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.