The Kentucky Wildcats don’t enter 2022 NCAA tournament betting in the good graces of their supporter’s after John Calipari’s kids stumbled at online sportsbooks throughout the tail end of the regular season and carried it into the SEC tourney. Though it closed the regular season out with wins in three of its final four games, it only managed covers against the closing college basketball odds once (1-2-1 ATS) with the push occurring because of a last second heave from TyTy Washington in a losing effort at Arkansas. Then it failed to cover in a win over Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament, and followed that up with a non-competitive semis loss to Tennessee in a game it went off the board favored by 3-points. The Wildcats don’t enter the tourney playing their best ball. Even so, March Madness bettors are rushing to the window to lay the points in their first round matchup against a St. Peter’s Peacocks squad that benefitted from the Iona Gaels bowing out early to secure the MAAC’s lone bid to the dance. While Kentucky likely isn’t in jeopardy of being upset, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion the Peacocks overlooked defense makes it tough on the Wildcats out of the chute. As such, I’ll be looking to attack The No. 2 seeds team total once posted.
Take this First Round matchup in live on CBS at 7:10 p.m. ET from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN on Thursday, March 17, 2022. BookMaker.eu will have NCAA basketball odds available for this and every game lined up for today’s NCAA Tournament schedule
NCAA Tournament Odds at BookMaker.eu
Saint Peter’s Peacocks +18
Kentucky Wildcats -18
Total 131.5
Odds Analysis
Though installed the East’s No. 2 seed, Kentucky is the +198 favorite to win the region. For comparisons sake, St. Peter’s clocks in at +11500! Kentucky hit the board as decided 18.5-point favorites to advance into the second round with the total lined at 133.5. Total bettors jumped at the opportunity to play another Peacocks under with it cashing in 18 of their 27 played regular season games as well as in two of their three played conference tournament matchups. The number to beat has since fallen to 131.5 with heavier -113 juice still attached to the under. Though the Wildcats have taken 60 percent of the bets and a whopping 92 percent of the money, the point spread is down a half-point to -18. Looks like some respected sharp money likes the dog!
Saint Peter’s Peacocks
Peter’s clocks in as the No. 118 team in the country per the current Pomeroy Ratings; ahead of only 14 teams that made the Field of 72. Offensively, it boasts a decent 1-2 punch in G Devin Banks III (11.2 PPG) and F KC Ndefo – 10.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 blocks per game – but it isn’t the Peacocks offense that sets it apart from the opposition. The defense however is in a stratosphere of its own with its ability to defend both the perimeter (No. 15) and interior (No. 11). While yet to see the type of athleticism Kentucky will throw its way, St. Peter’s has only allowed two of its last 12 opponents to exceed the 65-point plateau. It’s also forced the 44th most turnovers in the country! This defense will be tough for the Wildcats to break down.
Kentucky Wildcats
Though Kentucky chiseled off a nice chunk of my bankroll in Saturday’s pitiful display against the Vols, I’m still a believer in what Oscar Tshiebwe and his mates bring to the table for this tournament. I still believe it boasts one of if not the most talented rosters in the country when healthy and firing on all cylinders. That however has been a major issue down the stretch here, and it has me a bit concerned. Still, I don’t plan on partaking in any type of futures hedging at least until the Elite Eight should it square off against UCLA – one of my tourney dark horses. That being said, I fully expect the Wildcats to get the Peacocks best game right from the opening tip and would come away extremely surprised if it hung a crooked number on a St. Peter’s defense I’ve taken notice of all season.
Betting Prediction
This won’t be the walk in the park college basketball bettors envision when going by the most up to date wagering reports. I have no inclination to lay the hefty chalk, and also agree with the move on the under. So much so that I’ll be betting against Kentucky surpassing its team total which should surface in the 74-76 point range come tip-off dependent upon the total plummeting even more. I also like the first half under. Should Kentucky’s poor offensive execution carry over into the Big Dance, the team’s won’t have any shot of surpassing what’s likely to be a 62-64 first half impost with each likely doing no more than feeling each other out over the first 20 minutes. This one should be a physical, low scoring grind all the way through.
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