March Madness Round 1: Oakland vs Kentucky Betting Lines & Score
Plenty of Points Expected in First-Round Game
Oakland vs Kentucky Final Score
Oakland vs Kentucky Betting Preview
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies (23-11) face the Kentucky Wildcats (23-9) in a South Region matchup on Thursday. Oakland earned its way to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Horizon League Tournament. The Wildcats received a No. 3 seed and an at-large bid after being upset by Texas A&M in the first-round of the SEC tournament. The Oakland vs Kentucky betting lines have the Wildcats favored by 13.5 points. The total on the game is 162.5.
Golden Grizzlies vs Wildcats 
Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Day/Time: Streaming: CBS
Oakland Has Been Solid Underdog
The Golden Grizzlies are a solid 20-13-1 against the point spread this season, including 8-3 as an underdog. Oakland is also 4-1 ATS on neutral courts this season, so it will have a few trends in its favor. The team’s best win came against Xavier, its only victory against a team in the KenPom top 60. Oakland did lose by 11 at Illinois early in the season but also lost to Cleveland State by 18. The Golden Grizzlies have lost four games by 14 or more points this season.
Oakland is a little better than average offensively. The Golden Grizzlies do like to play at a slow pace and can shoot well enough. The team is solid from the foul line and can knock down some 3-pointers. The 2-point shooting isn’t bad and the team does a fair job grabbing offensive rebounds and preventing turnovers.
The Golden Grizzlies can play a little defense, although it’s not a team strength. It’s not a real weakness, however, and Oakland’s stats are a little better than average. Oakland doesn’t force a lot of turnovers, but the team doesn’t send the opposition to the foul line often. The Golden Grizzlies threw in a couple of defensive clunkers during the year, but also had some solid efforts.
Wildcats One of Best Over Teams in Country
Kentucky was a favorite of over bettors this season, with the Wildcats posting a 23-9 mark so far this season. The Wildcats are 17-14 against the spread, but just 11-13 as a favorite. Kentucky had what you could call two bad losses this season, falling to NC-Wilmington and LSU, although both teams are rated higher by KenPom than Oakland.
Offense is the name of the game at Kentucky and the Wildcats are averaging 89.4 points per game. Kentucky is the best 3-point shooting team in the country, but are solid from the inside and at the foul line. The Wildcats don’t make a lot of turnovers and crash the offensive boards pretty well. Kentucky looks to take advantage of its athleticism by playing an up-and-down the court style. The Wildcats are No. 21 in the nation in average time per possession.
The Wildcats aren’t bad defensively, although they’re certainly not great. Kentucky is the best shot-blocking team in the country, but surprisingly, doesn’t force a lot of turnovers and allows some offensive rebounds. Oakland is definitely a tier lower than what the Wildcats have been playing, however, Kentucky should do better on the boards.
What to Expect
Oakland is unlikely to be intimidated by the Wildcats. The Golden Grizzlies play a tough non-conference schedule that was ranked No. 15 by KenPom. Oakland saw six teams ranked in Pomeroy’s top 56 teams, so it has played some good teams. The Golden Grizzlies know they can’t match Kentucky in a fast-paced game, so they may try to bring the game to a crawl.
The Wildcats will try to force the pace, knowing they have better athletes. Kentucky may give up a few baskets in the process, but trying to run Oakland into the ground isn’t the worst of ideas. This is a game Kentucky is expected to have an easy time with, which is reflected in the Oakland vs Kentucky betting lines.
Who to Bet On?
This isn’t the worst No. 3 vs No. 14 game on the NCAAB schedule in the opening round. Oakland might be a little more prepared to face a top squad like Kentucky due to its non-conference slate. Still, the March Madness predictions will see plenty of people using the Wildcats to reach the Elite 8.
Looking at the stats, it appears Oakland is going to be hopelessly outclassed, but the Golden Grizzlies have played some good teams close. Oakland led at Illinois with 10 minutes to go before the Illini pulled away. The key to the game will be if Oakland is able to keep close in the first half. The longer the Golden Grizzlies can play their game, the better. If Kentucky gets up big early, Oakland isn’t the type of team that can mount a comeback easily.
The Oakland vs Kentucky betting lines on the total will also be impacted by what happens early. If the Golden Grizzlies are forced to pick-up the tempo, there will be a lot of points scored, although most of them will be scored by Kentucky.
This isn’t a game to use for your best NCAAB bets today, but Oakland +13.5 does offer a little bit of value.
For NCAAB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
