CBK NCAA Early Tourney Double Delight -Friday
- Handicapper
- Jim Feist
- League
- NCAAB
- Competition
- Santa Clara vs Kentucky
- Release Date
- 03/20/2026 01:59 AM
- Event Date
- 03/20/2026 12:15 PM
- Bet Type
- Point Spread
- Pick
-
Santa Clara +3.5 (-115)
(BetMGM)
- Outcome
- Loss
- Analysis
- Santa Clara can cover the spread against Kentucky Friday, March 20, 2026. Kentucky is favored by about 3.5 points right now. Why? Because this isn’t a typical 7-vs-10 game in terms of seeding. The best Broncos teams can stay inside the number, as told by the current market of Kentucky -3.5 and some books listing this line as low as -1.5.
The first thing that jumps off the page is offensive prowess. Santa Clara is 26-8 on the season while averaging 82.9 points per game. Kentucky is 21-13 while averaging 80.8 points per game. If we look at efficiency numbers, Santa Clara owns a good overall profile. The Broncos have a 118.9 offensive rating along with a 15.88 SRS. That is more than enough talent to keep pace with Kentucky for 40 minutes.
We can’t overlook Santa Clara’s resume, either. Sure, Kentucky played in a better league, but the Broncos went 15-3 in WCC play while compiling a better overall record than Kentucky’s 10-8 SEC mark and 21-13 overall finish. Kentucky played the tougher schedule, but Santa Clara has consistently won games throughout the year. When we’re talking about a game that likely won’t be separated by many points, consistency matters.
Kentucky also doesn’t profile as a team that will blow out Santa Clara. Per Sports-Reference, the Wildcats allow 73.8 points per game. Kentucky does not have the defensive profile of a team that you blindly assume will create enough separation against a good offense. If Santa Clara can get into any sort of offensive rhythm to start this game, Kentucky will likely have to win it on the rim. Once again, that is a formula in which the underdog covers the spread.
Santa Clara gets the points here on Friday.
Take: 761. Santa Clara
