Kentucky is the textbook definition of a blue-blood school and gets valued as such by bookmakers, particularly for its showdown against Utah on Wednesday night in Las Vegas .

The Wildcats have found themselves as a favorite of at least nine points seven times since Nov. 9 and has covered the spread in just one of those games.

Kentucky also has been dealing with not having its full complement of players down low with EJ Montgomery missing three games earlier in the season and Nate Sestina likely to miss his fourth game of the season on Wednesday. The missing size might show up on defense inside with Utah ranking fourth among Division I teams in 2-point field goal shooting percentage.

Utah also has a geographical advantage with this neutral-court game being in Las Vegas and the tip time slated for 8 p.m. Pacific time (11 p.m. Eastern).

Each of Utah’s four players who average at least 10 points per game also shooting over 76 percent at the free throw line. That should help the Utes hang around and cover the spread against a shorthanded Wildcats bunch.

The play: Utah, +11½ spread.