Kentucky vs. Providence: 2023 NCAA Tournament Best Bets & Picks
March Madness is officially here! The 2023 NCAA Tournament Bracket has been announced, and the teams are lining up for the Big Dance. Let’s take a look at the early odds, preview, and predictions for the 2023 NCAA Tournament Round 1 game: Kentucky vs. Providence.
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2023 March Madness Odds, Preview & Predictions: Kentucky vs. Providence
Kentucky vs. Providence Odds, Spread & Match Up Overview
- Kentucky Spread: -3.5
- Providence Spread: +3.5
- Kentucky Moneyline: -170
- Providence Moneyline: +138
- Game Over/Under: 144.5
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Kentucky 2023 NCAA Tournament Betting Preview
Ranking fourth in the preseason AP poll led to high expectations for John Calipari and Co. Oscar Tshiebwe was returning, and with the surrounding cast of talent, the sky seemed to be the limit after last year’s disappointing first-round exit. But this season has been anything but great for Kentucky. The Wildcats struggled early, dropping games to Michigan State, Gonzaga and UCLA, and failing to earn a victory against a top-25 KenPom team until after New Year’s Day. Losses to South Carolina and Georgia are awfully concerning for Kentucky’s tournament hopes, especially considering the question marks the Wildcats have on the injury front with Cason Wallace and Sahvir Wheeler banged up.
Still, I see this team having a higher ceiling than its same-seeded counterparts. Kentucky’s interior scoring and physicality on the glass — it ranks in the top 10 in offensive rebound rate — gives me confidence the Wildcats can hang tough against any team, even if they struggle with their shooting. Antonio Reeves is a sharpshooter, and Jacob Toppin is a dynamic forward. Defensively, this team has some holes. Kentucky rarely forces turnovers and doesn’t exactly excel anywhere on the defensive end.
When Kentucky is playing its best basketball, it can play with the best of them. But we have rarely seen that happen this season, if at all. There isn’t much evidence to make us believe Kentucky will suddenly start playing like a Final Four team now — especially not with the injuries that have hit this team.
Providence 2023 NCAA Tournament Betting Preview
Ed Cooley has done it again, leading Providence to yet another March Madness appearance. The Friars aren’t a 5-seed like they were last season, but this is an offensively powered team that has wins over some of the best teams in the Big East.
Bryce Hopkins is awesome but Providence is really powered by the quartet of Hopkins, Devin Carter, Ed Croswell and Jared Bynum — all high-usage options who propel a high-powered offense. Providence gets a lot of looks in the interior and is physical on the boards with a top-25 offensive rebound rate. The Friars have a strong record in close games and avoid foul trouble, but they allow a lot of near-proximity looks.
Providence ranks in the top 100 in both the consistency metric and the away-from-home metric, so I feel comfortable with this experienced team and experienced coach in a quick-turnaround game in the second round of the tournament. The Friars’ ceiling isn’t too high due to a defense that ranks outside the top 100, but they are easily capable of a win or two in the tournament.
Kentucky vs. Providence 2023 NCAA Tournament Predictions
This matchup features two teams that have been trending in opposite directions down the stretch of the regular season. Providence enters the tournament with losses in 6 of their last 10 games, with 3 of their wins coming against non-tournament teams in Georgetown and Villanova. Meanwhile, Kentucky has won 6 of their last 10, with several victories over tournament teams in Arkansas, Mississippi State, Auburn, and Tennessee. This game will feature some dynamic backcourts, with Cason Wallace and Antonio Reeves leading the Wildcats against Devin Carter and Jared Bynum for the Friars. There will be some great matchups in the frontcourt as well, with Jacob Toppin and the 2022 Naismith Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe taking on Ed Croswell and Bryce Hopkins. At the end of the day, I like Kentucky’s talent and size to get past this Providence team that has been leaking oil as of late.
Kentucky vs. Providence 2023 NCAA Tournament Picks
Kentucky -3.5
More Round 1 & First Four Betting Picks & Predictions
South
- #16 Texas A&M-CC vs. #16 Southeast Missouri St. (First Four)
- #8 Maryland vs. #9 West Virginia
- #5 San Diego St. vs. #12 Charleston
- #4 Virginia vs. #13 Furman
- #6 Creighton vs. #11 NC State
- #3 Baylor vs. #14 UC Santa Barbara
- #7 Missouri vs. #10 Utah State
- #2 Arizona vs. #15 Princeton
East
- #8 Memphis vs. #9 Florida Atlantic
- #5 Duke vs. #12 Oral Roberts
- #4 Tennessee vs. #13 Louisiana
- #6 Kentucky vs. #11 Providence
- #3 Kansas State vs. #14 Montana State
- #7 Michigan State vs. #10 USC
- #2 Marquette vs. #15 Vermont
West
- #1 Kansas vs. #16 Howard
- #8 Arkansas vs. #9 Illinois
- #5 Saint Mary’s vs. #12 VCU
- #4 UConn vs. #13 Iona
- #11 Arizona State vs. #11 Nevada (First Four)
- #3 Gonzaga vs. #14 Grand Canyon
- #7 Northwestern vs. #10 Boise State
- #2 UCLA vs. #15 UNC Asheville
Midwest
- #1 Houston vs. #16 Northern Kentucky
- #8 Iowa vs. #9 Auburn
- #5 Miami vs. #12 Drake
- #4 Indiana vs. #13 Kent State
- #11 Mississippi State vs. #11 Pitt (First Four)
- #3 Xavier vs. #14 Kennesaw State
- #7 Texas A&M vs. #10 Penn State
- #2 Texas vs. #15 Colgate
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