Big Red face big challenge with No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats
By Chico Rodriguez • Mar 24th, 2010 • Category: NCAABThe No. 12 Cornell Big Red are in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever, and it may not be a very enjoyable experience as they face the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats in an East regional semifinal on Thursday (10 pm ET, CBS).
NCAA Tournament Odds at JustBet have Kentucky as a 9-point favorite and the over/under total at 147.
These teams have met before, and the Big Red hold a 1-0 SU edge in the all-time series, but you have to go back 43 years to their lone meeting.
It was way back in the 1966-67 season when Cornell shocked the Wildcats, and their legendary coach Adolph Rupp, beating Kentucky 92-77 on Dec. 28, 1966.
The Big Red are the first Ivy League team to make it to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 round since 1979, when the Pennsylvania Quakers made it all the way to the Final Four.
On the other side of the Big Dance coin, Kentucky is making its 41st trip to the Sweet 16 round. As well, the Wildcats have made it to the Final Four 13 times and have won the NCAA Basketball national championship seven times.
Cornell (29-4 SU, 18-10 ATS) advanced to the regional semifinals with a 87-69 upset win over the Wisconsin Badgers in second round action on Sunday. The Big Red cashed as a 4-point underdog and the score went over the total of 126.5.
The Wildcats (34-2 SU, 19-15 ATS) blew out the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 90-60 in their second-round matchup on Saturday. Kentucky covered the 9.5-point spread and the score went under the total of 147.
Chico Rodriguez is is a sports handicapper with more than 15 years in the industry. He specializes in NFL and NCAFF analysis.
He was born and raised in Los Angeles and is still based out of the city. Since Los Angeles has no NFL team, his favorite is the Indianapolis Colts.
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