NCAAB: #11 Providence vs #6 Kentucky Odds, and Picks (Mar 17)

• Providence came up short against UConn, 73-66, last week.
• Kentucky was toppled by Vanderbilt, losing by a score of 80-73.
• These two teams last met on November 30, 2014, in a game that Kentucky won 58-38.

Providence (21-11) and Kentucky (21-11) match up in another intriguing game. The Friars narrowly snuck into the field and will be attempting to upset a Wildcats team that heated up down the stretch.

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• How to Watch
• Providence vs Kentucky Odds
• Game Preview
• NCAAB Picks

How to Watch

• Where: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
• When: Friday, March 17, 2023, at 7:10 p.m ET
• How to Watch: CBS

Odds

Game Preview

Providence ended the regular season with 3 straight losses, landing as an 11-seed in the tournament, narrowly avoiding a First Four game in Dayton. Instead, they’ll face off against a Kentucky team that has been dangerous. The Friars’ weaker schedule caused their seed to slide, but they are still a talented group. They’re led by Bryce Hopkins, who has cooled off lately and needs to heat back up.

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Kentucky went 5-2 in their final 7 games of the season, falling twice to Vanderbilt, but defeating their other opponents. For much of the season, the Wildcats were on the NCAA Tournament bubble, but ended up safely in the field as a 6-seed after going 12-6 in SEC play. A win here would give them a potential matchup with #3 Kansas State, though they need to first focus on defeating Providence.

Picks

This is another interesting game that could come down to the wire. Providence had a generally strong season, and can’t be counted out, but had their record inflated by a weaker schedule. The Friars rank low in the metrics, which haven’t been all that accurate in predicting games so far, but will likely still struggle here. I see it staying close early before Kentucky pulls away for a double-digit win.

Moneyline:

• Kentucky -190

Spread:

• Kentucky -4.0