Santa Clara vs Kentucky Prediction, Picks & Odds | 20 Mar 2026
College Basketball Betting Preview: Santa Clara vs Kentucky
No. 10 Santa Clara Broncos go up against No. 7 Kentucky Wildcats in this NCAA Tournament First Round matchup at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, with tip-off scheduled for 11:15 on Friday, March 20.
The market might have underrated Santa Clara and -120 makes plenty of appeal considering the underdogs are +3.5 on the spread. Back the Broncos to cover the line against Kentucky.
The Santa Clara Broncos (26-8, 3rd in WCC) came up short last time out, losing 79-68 to the Gonzaga Bulldogs on the road.
The Kentucky Wildcats (21-13, 7th in SEC) lost their last game, falling 71-63 on the road to the Florida Gators.
| NCAAB Regular Season | Overall | PF | PA | N. Pts | Home | Away | Strk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Santa Clara
|
26-8 | 2817 | 2463 | 354 | 16-3 | 10-5 | 1L |
Kentucky
|
21-13 | 2746 | 2510 | 236 | 16-6 | 5-7 | 1L |
Santa Clara vs Kentucky Prediction & Picks
Prepare for Santa Clara vs Kentucky with our expert betting guide featuring a trusted match prediction, likely scoreline, key player props and a well-crafted bet builder.
Game Prediction
Our pick is that Santa Clara will be able to cover the spread in this NCAA Tournament showdown, with +3.5 looking favorable for our wager. Take the -120 that is currently available.
We keep a close eye on team news and our college basketball handicappers stay sharp by tracking the latest form and lineups. You’ll also find a full set of stats that offer valuable insight and help shape smarter predictions ahead of the action.
Key Santa Clara vs Kentucky stats:
Santa Clara +3.5 Probability
The latest odds at the best betting apps suggest our pick carries a 54.6% chance of winning. However, our analysts think that the probability is close to 60% taking all factors into consideration. It’s the reason why we are recommending this college basketball bet.
If you want a viable alternative to backing Santa Clara on the spread, then the Winning Margin could be up your street. Choose from a range of options.
Claim exclusive offers now—our guide features top betting promo codes, the latest sign-up bonuses, and free bets.
Player Prop Picks
Denzel Aberdeen (Kentucky) can be wagered to have Under 4.5 assists at -147. There’s no reason to oppose our instinct, so we’ll bet on him failing to cover the Player Assists total here.
Latest Denzel Aberdeen Player Prop Odds
Allen Graves (Santa Clara) can be wagered to total Over 7.5 rebounds at -105. We’re confident that he can oblige with an Overs bet considering the generous line that’s on offer.
Latest Allen Graves Player Prop Odds
Pick odds and lines correct at publication. Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.
Same Game Parlay Picks
We’ve loaded up a same game parlay with the combined picks of Santa Clara +3.5, Under 159.5 and Denzel Aberdeen (Kentucky) to get Under 4.5 assists.
Should you want to back different picks for the same game, then a same game parlay will suit your needs. The betting sites create this personalised basketball wagering tool where you can choose different selections and combine the odds together.
Correct Score Prediction
77
-
75
Kentucky
There are massive odds on offer when it comes to the Broncos landing a 77-75 win. A close game is anticipated between two evenly-matched teams.
Santa Clara vs Kentucky Odds
The odds and lines below are updated regularly and may differ from the prices shown in our picks, which are captured at the time of publication.
With the sportsbooks giving them a 61% probability of winning this college game, Kentucky might be a popular parlay pick. That is reflected in their -154 Moneyline betting odds. Santa Clara are trading at bigger odds than their opponents and they can be backed at +128.
The spread currently stands at 2.5 and the total points line is 157.5. A bet on the Totals allows fans to use the latest basketball data to good effect. If you fancy Under 157.5, then the odds are -110.
Whether you’re betting pre-game or in-game, the top basketball sportsbooks serve up a wide range of team props and game lines to choose from. The options are nearly endless, and it’s great to have so much variety.
Otega Oweh is the market leader to rack up the most points. You can back -130 that he gets Over 22.5 points. Alternatively, Under is trading at -100.
Instead of focusing on the overall outcome, some bettors prefer to look at the college basketball micro betting lines. As the name suggests, it means placing short-term in-game wagers and this might include Next Field Goal, with the options being for a two-pointer or a three-pointer.
Latest regular season and playoff games stats.
Santa Clara Stats
Kentucky Stats
- Game Totals: An average of 157.40 pts in the previous 10 games
- Over 159.5: Covered in 4 of the previous 10 games
- Team Totals: Have scored an average of 81.10 pts and allowed 76.30 pts in the last 10 games
NCAAB Regular Season Table Select Season
| Southeastern | Overall | PF | PA | N. Pts | Home | Away | Strk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
26-7 | 2864 | 2376 | 488 | 18-3 | 8-4 | 1L |
Arkansas
|
26-8 | 3058 | 2723 | 335 | 20-3 | 6-5 | 5W |
Vanderbilt
|
26-8 | 2936 | 2557 | 379 | 15-3 | 11-5 | 1L |
Alabama
|
23-9 | 2935 | 2671 | 264 | 15-6 | 8-3 | 1L |
Georgia
|
22-10 | 2874 | 2533 | 341 | 15-6 | 7-4 | 1L |
Tennessee
|
22-11 | 2622 | 2289 | 333 | 16-5 | 6-6 | 1L |
Texas A&M
|
21-11 | 2807 | 2546 | 261 | 14-5 | 7-6 | 1L |
Missouri
|
20-12 | 2549 | 2411 | 138 | 15-4 | 5-8 | 3L |
|
Kentucky
|
21-13 | 2746 | 2510 | 236 | 16-6 | 5-7 | 1L |
Texas
|
18-14 | 2681 | 2458 | 223 | 13-7 | 5-7 | 3L |
Oklahoma
|
19-15 | 2813 | 2621 | 192 | 13-5 | 6-10 | 1L |
Auburn
|
17-16 | 2730 | 2620 | 110 | 14-6 | 3-10 | 1L |
LSU
|
15-17 | 2606 | 2512 | 94 | 10-9 | 5-8 | 4L |
Ole Miss
|
15-20 | 2656 | 2664 | -8 | 9-9 | 6-11 | 1L |
Mississippi State
|
13-19 | 2484 | 2618 | -134 | 9-10 | 4-9 | 6L |
South Carolina
|
13-19 | 2398 | 2447 | -49 | 11-8 | 2-11 | 1L |
| West Coast | Overall | PF | PA | N. Pts | Home | Away | Strk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gonzaga
|
30-3 | 2809 | 2178 | 631 | 20-0 | 10-3 | 2W |
Saint Mary's
|
27-5 | 2502 | 2066 | 436 | 18-1 | 9-4 | 1L |
|
Santa Clara
|
26-8 | 2817 | 2463 | 354 | 16-3 | 10-5 | 1L |
Seattle
|
20-13 | 2373 | 2211 | 162 | 15-5 | 5-8 | 1L |
Pacific
|
18-15 | 2399 | 2271 | 128 | 13-3 | 5-12 | 1L |
Oregon State
|
17-16 | 2347 | 2447 | -100 | 13-8 | 4-8 | 1L |
San Francisco
|
17-16 | 2464 | 2414 | 50 | 11-6 | 6-10 | 1L |
Loyola Marymount
|
15-17 | 2376 | 2306 | 70 | 10-10 | 5-7 | 2L |
Portland
|
14-19 | 2426 | 2582 | -156 | 12-6 | 2-13 | 1L |
San Diego
|
12-21 | 2458 | 2570 | -112 | 9-8 | 3-13 | 1L |
Washington State
|
11-20 | 2435 | 2495 | -60 | 9-8 | 2-12 | 4L |
Pepperdine
|
9-23 | 2312 | 2546 | -234 | 7-10 | 2-13 | 1L |
- Overall = Overall Wins-Losses
- PF = Total Points For
- PA = Total Points Against
- N. Pts = Point Differential
- Home = Home Record
- Away = Away Record
- Strk = Current Streak
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