Vermont vs. Marquette: Best NCAA Tournament Round 1 Bets (Friday)

by BettingPros Staff |
Mar 17, 2023

The Madness returns Friday for even more jam-packed college basketball action! Before things tip off this afternoon be sure to get all of your betting picks placed. To help, here are our top picks for Friday’s Round 1 action: Vermont vs. Marquette.

Round 1 NCAA Tournament Picks & Predictions for Friday: Vermont vs. Marquette

All betting odds are from:

Round 1 Player Prop Bet Picks & Predictions for Friday

Marquette vs. Vermont 2023 NCAA Tournament Predictions

Marquette swept both the Big East regular season and tournament crowns, despite being underestimated most of the season. But the Golden Eagles might've gotten a tough draw with the Vermont Catamounts. Granted, the America East isn't a juggernaut. But Vermont did close the year on a 14-game winning streak. The Catamounts play at a sluggish pace and play a unique small ball lineup featuring just one player at 6-foot-8. Vermont can shoot the lights out, ranking 67th in 3-point shooting and 16th in 2-point shooting. The problem is, Vermont doesn't play much defense. Vermont ranks 220th against the three and 170th in the interior. Marquette also runs beautiful offense and should have no issues scoring in the lane. However, Marquette's defense has been susceptible to the long ball. And while Marquette is one of the best in the country in creating turnovers, Vermont ranks ninth in turnover percentage. I lean with the underdog Catamounts to keep this one respectable, but my preferred play will be the over.

Pick: Over 143.5,Vermont +10.5

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Round 1 Same Game Parlay Picks

Leg 1 - Tyler Kolek Over 17.5 Points (-110)

Guard Tyler Kolek, the Big East player of the year, averaged 18.7 points per game on his way to winning the Big East tournament's award for most outstanding player. In Marquette's run through the Big East tournament, Kolek shined once again, scoring 19, 17, and 20 points, as the Golden Eagles ran away with the trophy.

In this matchup, I expect the nifty guard to largely have his way in the backcourt, easily eclipsing this 17.5-point mark.

Leg 2 - Vermont Team Total - Over 71.5 (+195)

In the America East conference championship game, Vermont defeated UMass Lowell 72-59 to win the title for the eighth time and claim the league's automatic berth to the NCAA tournament. The win marked the fourth in a row for Vermont to score more than 71 points, and I think there's value in them getting to that number again here.

Leg 3 - Vermont +10.5

The No. 2 seed in the East goes to Marquette (28-6), which is a program record and merited, as the Golden Eagles have won nine straight games and just won the Big East tournament for the first time.

After winning the America East conference tournament championship on Saturday, Vermont (23-10) enters the first-round match as the 15th seed in the East, and one of the hottest teams in college basketball as the Catamounts have triumphed in 15 straight contests.

The Golden Eagles suffered their fourth consecutive NCAA tournament defeat as they were defeated by eventual national champion North Carolina in the first round last year. They look to bounce back in this year's edition. So far, so good, as they became just the 10th team in Big East history to win both the conference championships in the regular season and the conference tournament in the same year.

While Vermont will no doubt give them a run, I like for Marquette to edge to out a close game that Vermont is in the thick of throughout. Vermont should be a real threat to be the team to advance to play the winner of Michigan State vs. Southern California on Sunday in Columbus.

Parlay Odds: +370 @ DraftKings

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Round 1 Betting Picks & Predictions

Vermont

Prop	Odds	Units	To Win	Book
Aaron Deloney Under 10.5 Points	-113	1.13	1	FD

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