A fun first round game in the East Region is set for Friday night in Greensboro. Providence, the #11 seed, will look to take out the surging #6 Kentucky Wildcats. The winner of this game will play the winner of #3 Kansas State vs #14 Montana State. Below is our pick for the Providence vs Kentucky NCAA Tournament game in round one.
Providence vs Kentucky Betting Pick
| ℹ️ The Pick: | Kentucky -3.5 |
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This game will be played at Greensboro Coliseum at 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday, March 17, 2023.
Why Bet on Kentucky:
✅ Kentucky went 5-2 in their final seven regular season games.
✅ The Wildcats have not lost to a team other than Vanderbilt since February 11th.
✅ Providence went 1-4 in their final five games of the regular season.
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Providence Friars – We Are Lucky to Make It
Providence would have been sweating on Selection Sunday, but they ultimately made the Big Dance and even avoided the First Four games. The Friars lost their first game in the Big East Tournament and were in a freefall the final month of the regular season.
Since February 1st, the Friars are ranked as the 92nd best team in the nation and are a poor 4-6 in their 10 games over that span. Providence is the 27th best offensive team, but rank 209th on defense.
The Friars are back in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and are coming off a Sweet Sixteen appearance from last season.
Kentucky Wildcats – Which Version Will Show Up
Kentucky was good to end the season, but they caught a Vanderbilt bug and were beaten twice in nine days by the Commodores. The Wildcats seemed to hit their stride at the right moment and could be a danger heading into the Big Dance.
Over the last six weeks, the Wildcats are rated as the 18th best team in the nation, the seventh best team in the offense, and are 6-4 in their 10 games during that span.
Kentucky is making the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and are, unfathomably, looking for their first win in the Big Dance since the 2018-2019 season.
