The Saint Peter's Peacocks are set to face the Kentucky Wildcats. Check out our March Madness odds series, which includes our Saint Peter's Kentucky prediction, odds, and pick.
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The Saint Peter's Peacocks were not the regular-season champions of their conference. Saint Peter's came close to winning the MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, not the Mid-American Conference), but Rick Pitino's Iona Gaels won the regular-season MAAC title. However, Iona was shocked in the quarterfinals of the MAAC Tournament by Rider. Saint Peter's saw that the door was open to winning the MAAC Tournament without having to play the top seed. Saint Peter's jumped on the opportunity and convincingly captured three straight wins to make its dreams come true.
If you know anything about Saint Peter's, know this: This is a great defensive team. Not good, but great. Coach Shaheen Holloway has gotten his players to fully buy into the idea that defense is how the Peacocks will win games. Saint Peter's typically holds opponents under 60 points per game. It used this formula when winning the MAAC Tournament, something to remember when making your Saint Peter's Kentucky prediction.
The Kentucky Wildcats did not have an easy season. They lost Iowa transfer C.J. Fredrick to injury last autumn, when the season was just starting. TyTy Washington was injured for multiple games this season, including a loss at Auburn which was the difference between Kentucky winning the SEC championship and having to settle for the No. 3 seed at the SEC Tournament. Sahvir Wheeler has also missed games for this team, which easily could have been a No. 1 seed had it been healthier. Yet, coach John Calipari — with a lot of help from 2022 National Player of the Year favorite Oscar Tshiebwe — has managed to steer the Wildcats to a No. 2 seed in the Big Dance. Kentucky is a main contender for the national title. Remember that when arriving at a Saint Peter's Kentucky pick. Kentucky is aware that the top seed in its region, the Baylor Bears, is actually in a worse position than the Wildcats relative to injuries. This is a great opportunity for Kentucky to come out of the East Region bracket and return to the Final Four for the first time since 2015.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Saint Peter's-Kentucky odds:
March Madness Odds: Saint Peter's-Kentucky Odds
Saint Peter's: +18 (-110)
Kentucky: -18 (-110)
Over: 132.5 (-110)
Under: 132.5 (-110)
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Why Saint Peter's Could Cover the Spread
The Peaccocks' rugged defense enables them to annoy any opponent, even Kentucky. The Wildcats sometimes struggle to hit perimeter jumpers. This could easily turn into a close rockfight.
Why Kentucky Could Cover the Spread
The Wildcats shot horribly against Tennessee on Saturday in the SEC Tournament semifinals. Tennessee, however, has bigger and longer bodies than Saint Peter's. Kentucky can overpower the Peacocks.
Final Saint Peter's-Kentucky Prediction & Pick
Saint Peter's gets the most out of its personnel, thanks to its great defense, but Kentucky has bigger and more muscular bodies, and it's going to be hard for the Peacocks to withstand the onslaught.
Final Saint Peter's-Kentucky Pick: Kentucky -18
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