KSR's Roundtable Predictions/Props for Kentucky vs. Providence

DrewFranklinKSR

The NCAA Tournament is underway, and Kentucky Basketball‘s time on the dance floor begins tonight at 7:10 p.m. in Greensboro Coliseum. Before it does, Kentucky Sports Radio has another roundtable of predictions and prop bets for the Wildcats’ first-round game against Providence, the No. 11 seed. Keep scrolling for the prop sheet and to read how we feel about the game before it tips, then share your own predictions in the comments section.

Go Cats.

Kentucky vs. Providence | KSProp Sheet

Score Prediction:
Game MVP:
Oscar Tshiebwe O/U 17.5 pts:
Antonio Reeves O/U 14.5 pts:
Jacob Toppin O/U 14.5 pts:
Cason Wallace O/U 11.5 pts:
Chris Livingston O/U 6.5 pts:
Bryce Hopkins O/U 14.5 pts:
Oscar Tshiebwe O/U 12.5 rebs:
Jacob Toppin O/U 6.5 rebs:
Chris Livingston O/U 5.5 rebs:
Bryce Hopkins O/U 6.5 rebs:
CJ Fredrick O/U 0.5 3-pointers:
Sahvir Wheeler O/U 0.5 min:
Kentucky’s largest lead O/U 10.5 pts:
Providence’s largest lead O/U 4.5 pts:

Drew Franklin

To say I’m uneasy would be an understatement, but I do believe the Cats get it done versus their old pal Bryce Hopkins to silence the first-round exit conversations. I think it will be a test and extremely uncomfortable at times, maybe until the final buzzer, but it’ll be Kentucky advancing to play Kansas State (or Montana State) in the second round.

Score Prediction: Kentucky 69, Providence 66
Game MVP: Oscar Tshiebwe
Oscar Tshiebwe O/U 17.5 pts: Under
Antonio Reeves O/U 14.5 pts: Under
Jacob Toppin O/U 14.5 pts: Under
Cason Wallace O/U 11.5 pts: Over
Chris Livingston O/U 6.5 pts: Over
Bryce Hopkins O/U 14.5 pts: Over
Oscar Tshiebwe O/U 12.5 rebs: Over
Jacob Toppin O/U 6.5 rebs: Over
Chris Livingston O/U 5.5 rebs: Under
Bryce Hopkins O/U 6.5 rebs: Over
CJ Fredrick O/U 0.5 3-pointers: Over
Sahvir Wheeler O/U 0.5 min: Under
Kentucky’s largest lead O/U 10.5 pts: Under
Providence’s largest lead O/U 4.5 pts: Under

Nick Roush

While some are skittish, I could not be more confident in the Cats. Will they dominate the Friars? Probably not. This is likely going to be a high-scoring affair and a game of big runs, but there’s only one consistent thing about this Kentucky team: they’re at their best after their worst. After dropping an egg against Vandy, they’ll be ready to bounce back with a bunch of big buckets against their former teammate.

Score Prediction: Kentucky 79, Providence 73
Game MVP: Oscar Tshiebwe
Oscar Tshiebwe O/U 17.5 pts: Over
Antonio Reeves O/U 14.5 pts: Over
Jacob Toppin O/U 14.5 pts: Over
Cason Wallace O/U 11.5 pts: Under
Chris Livingston O/U 6.5 pts: Under
Bryce Hopkins O/U 14.5 pts: Over
Oscar Tshiebwe O/U 12.5 rebs: Over
Jacob Toppin O/U 6.5 rebs: Over
Chris Livingston O/U 5.5 rebs: Over
Bryce Hopkins O/U 6.5 rebs: Over
CJ Fredrick O/U 0.5 3-pointers: CJ is going to hit one big one late to secure the Win in a feel-good moment for the Cats that we’ll all be talking about tomorrow.
Sahvir Wheeler O/U 0.5 min: Over, 9 minutes
Kentucky’s largest lead O/U 10.5 pts: Over
Providence’s largest lead O/U 4.5 pts: Under

Tyler Thompson

I am writing this at 1:45 p.m. before getting ready to head to the arena and the nerves are starting to kick in. Is Kentucky capable of winning this game? Of course. The Cats are more talented than Providence and at their best after a disappointing loss. They’ve also been saying and doing all the right things this week in Greensboro. I just hope the pressure of the loss to St. Peter’s last year is impacting me more than them, and that Bryce Hopkins doesn’t go nuclear against his old squad. I think Kentucky wins a close one, but am prepared for it to go down to the wire.

Score Prediction: Kentucky 72, Providence 70
Game MVP: Oscar Tshiebwe
Oscar Tshiebwe O/U 17.5 pts: Over
Antonio Reeves O/U 14.5 pts: Under
Jacob Toppin O/U 14.5 pts: Over
Cason Wallace O/U 11.5 pts: Under
Chris Livingston O/U 6.5 pts: Over
Bryce Hopkins O/U 14.5 pts: Over
Oscar Tshiebwe O/U 12.5 rebs: Over
Jacob Toppin O/U 6.5 rebs: Over
Chris Livingston O/U 5.5 rebs: Under
Bryce Hopkins O/U 6.5 rebs: Under
CJ Fredrick O/U 0.5 3-pointers: Over
Sahvir Wheeler O/U 0.5 min: Under
Kentucky’s largest lead O/U 10.5 pts: Under
Providence’s largest lead O/U 4.5 pts: Under

Zack Geoghegan

This is a matchup that should serve Kentucky, particularly Oscar Tshiebwe, quite well. The size advantage will drastically favor the Wildcats, which should allow the UK bigs to feast on the glass and in the paint — although we saw how that worked out against St. Peter’s… The Jacob Toppin vs. Bryce Hopkins matchup is more likely to be a wash as opposed to Hopkins exploding for 30 points. Providence is one of the coldest teams in the entire tournament and struggles to defend against solid offenses. If Kentucky can get an above-average game from Cason Wallace, the ‘Cats will be in good shape.

Score Prediction: Kentucky 81, Providence 76
Game MVP: Oscar Tshiebwe
Oscar Tshiebwe O/U 17.5 pts: Over
Antonio Reeves O/U 14.5 pts: Under
Jacob Toppin O/U 14.5 pts: Over
Cason Wallace O/U 11.5 pts: Under
Chris Livingston O/U 6.5 pts: Over
Bryce Hopkins O/U 14.5 pts: Over
Oscar Tshiebwe O/U 12.5 rebs: Over
Jacob Toppin O/U 6.5 rebs: Over
Chris Livingston O/U 5.5 rebs: Under
Bryce Hopkins O/U 6.5 rebs: Over
CJ Fredrick O/U 0.5 3-pointers: Under
Sahvir Wheeler O/U 0.5 min: Under
Kentucky’s largest lead O/U 10.5 pts: Over
Providence’s largest lead O/U 4.5 pts: Over

Jack Pilgrim

This program is in a can’t-lose scenario right now. It’s just an unthinkable reality that, frankly, John Calipari can’t afford. And luckily, I just don’t think it’s one he’s going to have to face. The pressure is on Bryce Hopkins to step up and perform against his former team, the anchor of a Providence team that has, with all due respect, has stunk as of late. Kentucky has been at its best this season when desperate times have come, and this the biggest and most obvious example. Factor in the cloudiness surrounding Ed Cooley’s future with the Friars — the dude refuses to deny he’s interested in the Georgetown job — and a collapse isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

There’s just too much on the line tonight for the Wildcats to not take advantage. It may not be pretty, but the Cats have to win.

Score Prediction: Kentucky 76, Providence 70
Game MVP: Jacob Toppin
Oscar Tshiebwe O/U 17.5 pts: Over
Antonio Reeves O/U 14.5 pts: Under
Jacob Toppin O/U 14.5 pts: Over
Cason Wallace O/U 11.5 pts: Over
Chris Livingston O/U 6.5 pts: Under
Bryce Hopkins O/U 14.5 pts: Under
Oscar Tshiebwe O/U 12.5 rebs: Over
Jacob Toppin O/U 6.5 rebs: Over
Chris Livingston O/U 5.5 rebs: Over
Bryce Hopkins O/U 6.5 rebs: Over
CJ Fredrick O/U 0.5 3-pointers: Over
Sahvir Wheeler O/U 0.5 min: Over
Kentucky’s largest lead O/U 10.5 pts: Under
Providence’s largest lead O/U 4.5 pts: Over