By
Blake Roberts
Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 16 March 2022
Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief
Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.
Selection Sunday is over, and we’re ready for some college basketball betting. We cover all the odds, best betting sites, and pre-game analysis as No. 2 seed Kentucky (26-7) tips off against No. 15 seed St. Peter’s (19-11) in this 2022 NCAA Basketball Tournament first-round matchup.
Since St. Peter’s is in New Jersey, Garden State gamblers will need to travel elsewhere to bet on the game. We suggest checking out the best PA betting sites for the 2022 NCAA Tournament for South Jersey bettors or New York sports betting sites if you’re from North Jersey.
The Kentucky Wildcats are putting on their dancing shoes for the first time since 2019. Coach John Calipari rebuilt the Wildcats into a favorite this year.
St. Peter’s is on a seven-game win streak and will hope to continue the success that won them the MAAC title and an automatic berth.
Will UK continue their strong season, or can the Peacocks do the impossible knock-off a tournament favorite early? Before you decide, take a look at the best Kentucky vs. St. Peter’s betting odds and sites.
Kentucky has put together a strong season despite being hampered by injuries. Several college basketball experts have them tipped to win the entire tournament, provided they can stay healthy.
If John Calipari’s squad can avoid the inconsistency that plagued them towards the end of the season, UK has a decent path to the Elite Eight.
Kentucky’s key to success will be the performances of Forward Oscar Tshiebwe and Guard TyTy Washington. Tshiebwe is averaging 17 points and 15.1 rebounds per game across 31.5 minutes and is widely regarded as one of the top players in the country.
Washington is having a stellar freshman year anchoring the Wildcats’ backcourt. He’s averaging 15.8 points and 4.5 assists while shooting 43.1% from beyond the arc.
However, both of them battled through injuries in recent games which led to Kentucky’s inconsistency down the stretch. Kentucky will need them fully recovered if they’re to make a deep run.
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | -17.5 (-110) | -2500 | Bet Now |
If you want to bet on Kentucky, Pennsylvania gamblers have it good with the BetRivers PA site. It offers the most generous spread and moneyline odds on the Wildcats. Be sure to read our BetRivers PA review for a complete overview of the site.
St. Peter’s ended their season on a tear en route to the MAAC conference title. They won seven straight games to earn themselves their ticket to the Big Dance.
St. Peter’s will need to use their stifling defense to their advantage if they’re going to keep this game close. Kentucky outsizes, out skills, and outshoots them in almost every category.
They will need to rely on their big forward KC Ndefo to continue his stellar defense. He’s averaging 2.7 blocks and 1.3 steals per game across 25.7 minutes.
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Peter’s Peacocks | +18 (-110) | +1600 | Bet Now |
If you want to take the points and bet on St. Peter’s against the spread, we like FOX Bet PA, which has the Peacocks at +18.5. You can check out our FOX Bet review PA for a detailed guide to the site.
If you want to bet on St. Peter’s straight up, we can’t emphasize enough how nice the St. Peter’s betting odds are at Betway in Pennsylvania for moneyline wagers.
Betway’s St. Peter’s moneyline odds are a full dollar better than its closest competitor, so read our Betway review PA to see a full rundown of its offering.
Kentucky and St. Peter’s are both agonizingly slow teams in terms of pace. But Kentucky is one of the best teams in the country and could put up a big number on a smaller opponent.
The bookmakers agree and hung a low line between 131.5 and 132.5 points. If you want to bet the Kentucky vs. St. Peter’s over/under, check out Caesars Sportsbook in Michigan.
| Team | Total | Bonus | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caesars | O132 (-110)U132 (-110) | Risk-Free First Bet Up to $1,100 | Bet Now |
Indy is just across the border for Kentucky, while St. Peter’s has to travel from Jersey City. The Wildcats have a slight advantage here.
Tipoff Time: 7:10 PM EDT (4:10 PM PDT)
The 2022 NCAA Tournament first-round matchup between Kentucky and St. Peter’s will be played in the evening in Indiana.
The game will be broadcast on CBS and live-streamed on cbssports.com. To access the live stream, log in through your TV provider.
Most experts agree that Kentucky is the much stronger team. The teams play at a slow pace, so possessions will be limited, but the bookies have factored this into their lines already.
It will be hard to find value on the moneyline with Kentucky being such a heavy favorite and the experts not giving St. Peter’s much of a chance to win.
Therefore, you may want to consider betting the spread in this matchup. At a roughly 18 point favorite, a bet on Kentucky could be quite the sweat.
On the other hand, UK could easily limit the Peacocks to under 50 points if they’re healthy.
If you want more information about betting sites in your area, see our article on the best USA betting sites.
You can also read our write-up on sports betting in America for a complete overview on gambling taxes, laws, and betting safety.
Check out our betting guides to other selected 2022 NCAA Tournament first-round games:
Betting Bill Fails to Get Past Alabama Conference CommitteeRead Article
Lisa SpencerMay 18, 2024
North Carolina Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Ban College Prop BetsRead ArticleLisa SpencerMay 15, 2024
November Referendum on Sports Betting Likely in MissouriRead ArticleLisa SpencerMay 13, 2024