This is a bread and butter 15 vs 2 matchup. Saint Peter’s should not cause any problems for Kentucky, and this should hopefully serve as a tune-up game for the Wildcats after their disappointing exit from the SEC Tournament against Tennessee.
Kentucky is a legitimate contender to win the title this year, and the East region looks to have one of the easier paths to the Final Four this year. Baylor, UCLA, & Purdue have all underperformed this season, leaving the door wide open for a team like Kentucky to advance from the region.
Here are the best bets for their first-round matchup against MAAC Champion Saint Peter’s.
Kentucky vs Saint Peter’s Odds
Saint Peter’s vs Kentucky odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook and current as of 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 15.
- Moneyline: Saint Peter’s (+1500) @ Kentucky (-4500)
- Spread: Saint Peter’s +18 (-110) @ Kentucky -18 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 132 (-110) / Under 132 (-110)
- Implied Score: Saint Peter’s 57, Kentucky 75
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Kentucky vs Saint Peter’s Prediction
The Kentucky Wildcats should not have any trouble putting Saint Peter’s away in this matchup. Saint Peter’s is back in the tournament for the first time since 2011 and are still looking for their first ever NCAA Tournament win.
Unfortunately for them, it looks like they will have to wait until 2023 for that first win.
Wildcats star Oscar Tshiebwe is one of the most dominant players in the country, averaging 17 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. He’ll be a key factor in Kentucky’s run in this tournament and is expected to feast against Saint Peter’s.
Kentucky will look to get their stars some rest late in the game with a potentially tough matchup against either Murray State or San Francisco awaiting in the second round.
Kentucky vs Saint Peter’s Score Pick
Kentucky 72 , Saint Peter’s 52
This game is going to be a blowout, but I wouldn’t look for a high-scoring game. Saint Peter’s ranks 34th in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency.
- Print your 2022 March Madness bracket.
For a team ranked 118th in KenPom’s rankings, this is incredibly impressive. With that said, Kentucky is not your typical MAAC opponent, and they Wildcats have no problem winning this game.
Kentucky vs Saint Peter’s Best Bets
UNDER 132 Total Points (-110) at Caesars
Wager: 1 Unit
Kentucky will look to feed Tshiebwe in the paint all game, leading to high-percentage shots and not a lot of threes. Pair that with two teams that rank among the top 35 in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency, and we’re looking for a low-scoring contest.
Kentucky -18 (-110) at Caesars
Wager: .5 Units
Double-digit spreads are always tough to cover in the NCAA Tournament, even when it is a glaring mismatch such as this one. I believe Kentucky will cover the 18-point spread, but it could be a sweat down the stretch. With that, we’re only going with a half-unit wager.
