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The No. 6 Kentucky Wildcats (21-11) and the No. 11 Providence Friars (21-11) meet on Friday to compete for a place in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The opening round matchup tips off at 7:10 PM.
The Wildcats square off against the Friars in a game that Kentucky is currently a favorite by 4.5 points. A 143-point over/under is set for the game.
Kentucky vs. Providence Odds
Point Spread for Kentucky vs. Providence
The spread for this matchup is set at 4.5 points, with oddsmakers listing Kentucky as the favorite.
Kentucky vs. Providence Moneyline
As for the moneyline, Kentucky has -198 odds to pick up the win, while Providence is listed at +164 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the total for the game is set at 143 points.
Game Time and How to Watch
- Game Day: Friday, March 17, 2023
- Game Time: 7:10 PM ET
- TV Channel: CBS
- Location: Greensboro, North Carolina
- Arena: Greensboro Coliseum
Kentucky vs. Providence Betting Trends
Kentucky is 15-17-0 against the spread this season. The Wildcats have been chosen as favorites in 22 games this year and have walked away with the win 14 times (63.6%) in those games. Kentucky’s games this year have hit the over on 20 of 32 set point totals.
Providence is 18-14-0 against the spread this season. The Friars have gone 5-8 in games they were listed as the moneyline underdog (winning 38.5% of those games). Providence’s games this season have gone over the total in 17 of 32 opportunities (53.1%).
Kentucky vs. Providence Key Players to Watch
Kentucky
Oscar Tshiebwe is tops on his team in both points (16.5) and rebounds (13.1) per game, and also puts up 1.6 assists. Defensively, he posts 1.6 steals and 1 block. Jacob Toppin averages 12.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest, shooting 47.2% from the floor. Cason Wallace is tops on the Wildcats at 4.2 assists per contest, while also posting 3.5 rebounds and 11.6 points. Antonio Reeves puts up 14.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest, shooting 42.9% from the floor and 40.7% from beyond the arc with 2.3 made 3-pointers per contest.
Providence
Bryce Hopkins is posting team highs in points (16.1 per game) and rebounds (8.5). And he is delivering 2.3 assists, making 45.7% of his shots from the floor. Devin Carter is averaging 13.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, making 43.4% of his shots from the field and 30.9% from 3-point range, with 1.1 treys per contest. The Friars get 13.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game from Ed Croswell. Jared Bynum is the Friars’ top assist man (4.3 per game), and he puts up 10 points and 2.5 rebounds.
What you need to know about the Kentucky Wildcats
On offense, the Wildcats are putting up 75.1 points per game (96th-ranked in college basketball). They are ceding 68 points per contest on defense (119th-ranked). When it comes to rebounding, it’s been a dominant stretch for Kentucky, who is averaging 36.2 boards per game (ninth-best in college basketball) and allowing 26.9 rebounds per contest (ninth-best).
Kentucky is making 6.4 treys per game (287th-ranked in college basketball). It has a 35.4% shooting percentage (107th-ranked) from three-point land. This year, the Wildcats are ceding 6.6 three-pointers per game (101st-ranked in college basketball) and are allowing opponents to shoot 33.1% (127th-ranked) from three-point land.
The Wildcats have a 6-4 record against the spread while going 6-4 overall over their past 10 contests. Kentucky has gone over the total in seven of its last 10 outings. Kentucky’s offense has been less productive over its last 10 games, scoring 74.5 points a contest compared to the 75.1 it has averaged this year. Kentucky’s defense has been less stingy lately, as the team has allowed 70.7 points per game during its past 10 compared to the 68 points per game its opponents average on the season.
What you need to know about the Providence Friars
The Friars score 78.1 points per game and allow 71.3, ranking them 35th in college basketball on offense and 218th on defense. In 2022-23, Providence is 29th in the nation in rebounds (35.1 per game) and 70th in rebounds allowed (29.3).
With 6.7 made 3-pointers per game and shooting 35.1% from beyond the arc, Providence is 258th and 125th in college basketball, respectively, in those categories. The Friars give up 6.9 3-pointers per game and concede 34% from beyond the arc, ranking 138th and 194th, respectively, in college basketball.
The Friars have gone 4-6 in their past 10 games, with a 4-6 record against the spread during that span. Providence has hit the over in seven of its past 10 outings. In its past 10 games, Providence is putting up 77.4 points per contest, 0.7 fewer points than its season average (78.1). The Friars have played worse defensively over their previous 10 games, surrendering 78.2 points per contest, 6.9 more points their than season average of 71.3.
Kentucky vs. Providence Prediction & Pick
Our prediction to win this matchup is Kentucky, and we expect that Providence will cover the spread (Kentucky -4.5). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going over the posted total of 143 points.
How to bet Kentucky vs. Providence
You can bet on Kentucky vs. Providence at every legal online sportsbook. For more college basketball odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals, check out the latest NCAA lines as well as our guide to the best college basketball betting sites.
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