Western Kentucky vs. Maquette Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups For the 2024 March Madness Round of 64
Western Kentucky vs. Maquette Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups For the 2024 March Madness Round of 64
It looks like Tyler Kolek will return to the court for the Marquette Golden Eagles in time for the NCAA Tournament.
Kolek was second on the team in scoring with 15 points and added 4.7 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game with Marquette this season. He's become one of the best guards in the Big East over the last couple of years.
With Kolek, the Golden Eagles are dangerous. But we've seen plenty of No. 2 seeds get knocked off early. Could Marquette be one of them when it takes on Western Kentucky in the Round of 64's South Region?
Let's take a look at the latest odds and starting lineups for the Round of 64 matchup between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Marquette Golden Eagles.
Western Kentucky vs. Marquette Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Date: Friday, March 22, 2024
- Start Time: 2:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: TBS
Western Kentucky vs. Marquette Odds and Betting Data
| TEAM | SPREAD | MONEYLINE | IMPLIED CHANCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | +14.5 (-110) | 800 | 11.11% |
| Marquette Golden Eagles | -14.5 (-110) | -1800 | 94.74% |
The Marquette Golden Eagles have a nearly 95% chance of heading to the next round of the NCAA Tournament.
Marquette is a 14.5-point favorite and sitting at -1800 to win straight up.
This season, Western Kentucky had a losing record away from home. Obviously, the Hilltoppers performed better on a neutral court, but against Marquette, the competition is about to get a little harder.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Marquette Golden Eagles Prediction
Western Kentucky has turned the ball over 18.3% of the time due to their high-tempo offense. The Hilltoppers are too quick for their own good sometimes.
That plays into Marquette's style. The Golden Eagles have earned 21.1% of turnovers and have a top-20 rate in that category.
On the other hand, Marquette has limited its turnovers and has shot better from deep and inside the arc this year. The Golden Eagles aren't getting to the foul line much. However, Western Kentucky fouls at a higher rate, giving the Golden Eagles the potential of seeing the foul line more often.
But while Marquette will win this game outright, Western Kentucky should still be able to cover. The Hilltoppers could win the rebounding battle, with Marquette allowing 30.8% of offensive rebounds and only gaining 26% of offensive rebounds. If the Hilltoppers get more second chances, that should at least help them cover in this game.
Western Kentucky vs. Marquette Prediction: Western Kentucky -14.5 (-110) (Bet $110 to collect $210)
Western Kentucky vs. Marquette Projected Lineups
Western Kentucky projected lineup:
- G: Brandon Newman
- G: Khristian Lander
- G: Don McHenry
- F: Babacar Faye
- F: Tyrone Marshall Jr.
Marquette projected lineup:
- G: Tyler Kolek
- G: Stevie Mitchell
- G: Kam Jones
- F: Oso Ighodaro
- F: David Joplin
Western Kentucky March Madness Odds
The odds for Western Kentucky to win the NCAA Tournament are currently +200000. The Hilltoppers already have a very minimal chance of knocking off Marquette in the Tournament.
From there, if WKU earns a monumental upset, the Hilltoppers would have to face the winner of the Florida 7-10 game. That'll also be a major challenge.
Marquette March Madness Odds
Meanwhile, Marquette has a much better probability of winning the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Eagles are +3000 to win the NCAA Tournament. Marquette has the metrics to get into the Sweet 16. At that point, you never know what could happen.
Before the NCAA Tournament begins, Marquette's probability stands at 3.23 to win the entire thing. That's at least something!
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Jason grew up an avid sports fan. His passion for sports writing grew in high school and he developed a blog that was strictly for New York Sports. From his work, you will quickly realize that he loves looking at games from an analytical and numbers perspective and hopes to provide you with that same perspective in his articles.