Kentucky vs. Kansas Predictions: Latest Odds, Picks and Championship Preview

The Kentucky Wildcats will battle the Kansas Jayhawks for the national championship of college basketball on Monday night in a matchup that is sure to be a battle for the ages.

There are many interesting storylines in this game. Kentucky head coach John Calipari is looking to win his first national title, and to do that he will need to beat the coach whose team defeated him in the 2008 title game, Kansas' Bill Self.

There is also a ton of top NBA prospects in this game, such as Wildcats big man Anthony Davis, who will be looking to impress scouts on the game's biggest stage.

Here is a complete preview of this thrilling championship matchup.

Odds: Kentucky -6.5

Kentucky defeated Louisville by eight on Saturday and didn't really play all that well. It certainly wasn't close to their best effort. 

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist played only 23 minutes because of foul trouble, yet Kentucky still won without too much of a sweat.

While Kansas is definitely better than Louisville in several areas, I expect the Wildcats to cover this 6.5-point spread with a better performance than they gave against the Cardinals. 

Note: odds via betonline.com

Elite NBA Prospects Are Center Stage

Monday's title game has a number of top talents who could find themselves being drafted in the lottery during June's NBA draft.

In fact, Kentucky's Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist and Kansas' Thomas Robinson could be picks No. 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

Anthony Davis, F, Kentucky

Davis looks unstoppable right now with his amazing athleticism and shot-blocking ability. He was too much for Louisville to handle in the Final Four because the Cardinals had no one who could combat Davis' unique combo of big-man size and guard-like skills.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, F, Kentucky

Kidd-Gilchrist spent a lot of time on the bench against Louisville because of foul trouble, so you can bet he will be looking to get involved right from the start against Kansas. He is a fantastic all-around talent who can score from the outside, in transition and any other way you can think of. He's a complete basketball player and a high-character kid.

Thomas Robinson, F, Kansas

Robinson is a really strong player who uses his size and high motor to out-battle more athletic players on the glass and inside the paint. His ability to take contact and still finish strong is extraordinary. Robinson has a lot to gain in this matchup because a strong performance could solidify a top-three selection in the draft for him.

Key Matchup: Jeff Withey vs. Anthony Davis

Davis hasn't faced a dominant defensive big man that can stop him throughout the NCAA tournament, but that's about to change when he matches up against Kansas' 7-foot shot-blocking machine, Jeff Withey.

Withey is a beast inside, grabbing eight rebounds and swatting seven shots against Ohio State in the Final Four. He did a great job containing Buckeyes big man Jared Sullinger in that game, and his matchup against Davis on Monday will be equally important to Kansas' chances of cutting down the nets as national champs.

Keys for Both Teams

Key for Kentucky: Stars need to stay out of foul trouble

The Wildcats cannot afford to have Kidd-Gilchrist or Davis get in early foul trouble because they are too important to the team's success. 

Kentucky won't be able to have one of their stars in foul trouble and build a lead like they did against Louisville. Calipari's team needs to be aggressive but play smart at the same time.

Key for Kansas: Tyshawn Taylor needs to shoot well

Tyshawn Taylor is shooting 24-for-64 from the field in the NCAA tournament and has only had one impressive shooting performance, which came in the Elite Eight against North Carolina when he was 10-of-19. He's also missed all 20 of his shot attempts from beyond the three-point line.

If Kansas wants to keep up with Kentucky's high-scoring offense, then Taylor must shoot well from the outside and stretch the floor by consistently knocking down shots.

Prediction: Kentucky by 8

This Kentucky squad is one of the best college basketball teams I have ever seen. They have very few weaknesses and have more talent than many of the past NCAA champions.

The impressive part is that even though their team is so dependent on freshman, they play like a veteran squad that has known each other for years. They rarely make freshman mistakes, and there's no me-first attitude at all—just a commitment to winning.

Kansas is a quality team, but they are going up against one of the greatest teams college basketball has ever seen. The Jayhawks are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, and will not be able to stop Kentucky' march toward the title.

The Wildcats will win by eight points and capture the school's first national title since 1998 and their eighth overall.

Follow @NicholasGoss35