Marquette vs. Western Kentucky odds, score prediction: 2024 NCAA Tournament picks, best bets by proven model

Groups which have skilled some success within the NCAA Event meet when the second-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles face the No. 15-seeded Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in a South Area first-round showdown on Friday. The Golden Eagles (25-9), who’re making their thirty sixth NCAA look, have made 16 journeys to the Candy 16 and are 42-36 all-time within the match. The Hilltoppers (22-11), who’re making their twenty fourth NCAA look, have received at the least one sport in three of the final 4 NCAA Tournaments by which they’ve performed. Marquette received the one assembly between the colleges, a 79-60 win in the course of the opening spherical of the 1976 NCAA Event. Tyler Kolek (indirect) is predicted to play for Marquette regardless of lacking the final six video games. 

Tipoff is ready for two p.m. ET from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Marquette has a plus-8.5 level differential, Fortieth-best within the nation, whereas Western Kentucky has a plus-6.5 differential, Eightieth-best. The Golden Eagles are 14.5-point favorites within the newest Western Kentucky vs. Marquette odds from SportsLine consensus, whereas the over/below for complete factors scored is 157. Earlier than making any Marquette vs. Western Kentucky picks, be sure you see the school basketball predictions and betting recommendation from the SportsLine Projection Mannequin.

The mannequin simulates each Div. I school basketball sport 10,000 occasions. It enters the 2024 NCAA match on a 148-106 roll on all top-rated school basketball picks courting again to final season, returning greater than $1,700 for $100 gamers. It additionally has a robust 29-19 (+810) report on top-rated unfold picks this season. Anybody following it has seen big returns.

Now, the mannequin has set its sights on Marquette vs. WKU. You’ll be able to go to SportsLine now to see the picks. Listed here are a number of school basketball betting strains and tendencies for WKU vs. Marquette:

• Western Kentucky vs. Marquette unfold: Marquette -14.5
• Western Kentucky vs. Marquette over/below: 157 factors
• Western Kentucky vs. Marquette cash line: Western Kentucky +725, Marquette -1175
• WKU: The Hilltoppers are 4-1 ATS of their final 5 video games
• MU: The Golden Eagles are 11-4 ATS of their final 15 video games
• Western Kentucky vs. Marquette picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why Marquette can cowl

Senior ahead Oso Ighodaro is nursing a knee harm however is predicted to play. He missed the ultimate seven minutes of the Huge East championship sport, however nonetheless completed with eight factors, 4 assists and three rebounds. He poured in 20 factors and added three assists and three boards within the semifinal win over Windfall. Ighodaro has registered double-figure scoring in seven of the previous 10 video games, and has 4 double-doubles on the 12 months. In 33 video games, all begins, he’s averaging 14 factors, 6.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 blocks and one steal in 32.3 minutes.

Junior David Joplin has reached double-digit scoring in 21 video games, together with every of the previous three. Within the loss to UConn within the Huge East Ultimate, Joplin scored 12 factors, whereas grabbing six rebounds. He had 12 factors, six boards and two blocks within the semifinal win over Windfall. In 34 video games, all begins, he’s averaging 10.9 factors and three.8 rebounds in 27.3 minutes. See which group to again at SportsLine. 

Why Western Kentucky can cowl

Senior ahead Rodney Howard has come up huge when wanted this season. Within the 89-69 Convention USA quarterfinal win over New Mexico State on March 14, he poured in a season-high 20 factors, grabbed 5 rebounds and added three blocks. He has registered double-figure scoring in 17 video games this season, together with a close to double-double with 11 factors and 9 rebounds in a 70-68 win over Liberty on Jan. 6. In 32 video games, he has made eight begins, and is averaging 10 factors and 4.8 rebounds in 20.1 minutes.

Senior guard Khristian Lander has been on fireplace of late, reaching double-digit scoring in all three Convention USA Event video games, together with a 15-point and four-rebound effort in an 85-54 win over Center Tennessee within the semifinals. He had 11 factors, six rebounds and 4 steals in a 78-71 win over UTEP within the title sport. He had 10 factors, two rebounds and two steals within the quarterfinal win over New Mexico State. In 25 video games, together with 10 begins, he’s averaging 9.1 factors, 2.6 rebounds, two assists and one steal in 23.2 minutes. See which group to again at SportsLine. 

Learn how to make Western Kentucky vs. Marquette picks

SportsLine’s mannequin is leaning Underneath on the full, projecting the groups to mix for 155 factors. The mannequin additionally says one facet of the unfold hits in properly over 60% of simulations. You’ll be able to see the March Insanity picks solely at SportsLine.

So who wins Marquette vs. WKU, and which facet of the unfold hits properly over 60% of the time? Go to SportsLine now to see which facet of the unfold it is advisable to soar on, all from the mannequin on a 148-106 roll on its top-rated school basketball picks, and discover out.