Bodog Beat

The Kentucky Wildcats (18-13 SU, 14-13-1 ATS last year) are already one of the biggest stories of the 2008-09 college basketball season. But not in a good way. Kentucky lost 111-103 to the VMI Keydets on Friday; the Keydets represent the Big South, the same low-major conference that delivered Gardner-Webb’s upset of the Wildcats one year ago.

The Wildcats will have a tougher opponent on Tuesday night: the No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels (36-3 SU, 24-12 ATS). However, UK won’t have to deal with reigning Wooden Award winner Tyler Hansbrough, who will miss this matchup in Chapel Hill as he continues to recover from a stress reaction in his shin.

The man they call Psycho T had never missed a start for UNC before Saturday’s season opener against Pennsylvania. Without their heart and soul, the Tar Heels (-32.5) were unable to grab the cash in their 86-71 victory.

Get your NCAA Basketball odds in the Bodog Sportsbook!