Marquette vs. Vermont Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, and Latest Odds for Round of 64

Marquette vs. Vermont Prediction, Pick Against the Spread, and Latest Odds for Round of 64

What a day of games we had yesterday! We saw 4-seed Virginia fall to Furman, and the bigger upset, 2-seed Arizona, lost to Princeton. Houston also had a close game with Northern Kentucky. One 15 seed already won yesterday. Will there be another in this game between 1-seed Marquette and 15-seed Vermont?

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Marquette vs. Vermont Start Time, Where to Watch, Odds

• Date: Friday, March 17
• Time: 2:45 pm ET
• Where to Watch:

Get the latest Vermont vs. Marquette odds here

Marquette vs. Vermont Prediction

The Vermont Catamounts come into this game as the 15th seed in the East Region, with an overall record of 23-10. They secured their spot in the tournament by winning the America East conference tournament, where they defeated Umass Lowell in the championship game. Vermont is a team that likes to play at a slow pace, relying on its defense to stifle opponents and create opportunities for themselves on the offensive end. They're led by guard Dylan Penn, who is averaging 13.5 points per game. Penn is the playmaker, along with Aaron Deloney, who set up the offense. Both are experienced seniors that are valuable come tournament time.

On the other side of the court, we have the Marquette Golden Eagles, who enter the tournament as the 2 seed in the East Region. Marquette had a strong regular season, finishing with a record of 28-6, and didn't even need an at-large bid, as they beat Xavier to win the Big East tournament. They boast a balanced scoring attack, with four players averaging double figures in points per game. Junior guard Tyler Kolek is one of the most impressive point guards in the nation, and he ranks fourth in the assist rate in the nation. He is one of the best passers in the country and facilitates the Golden Eagle's offense. Marquette also has a potent scorer in big-man Oso Ighodaro, who is shooting 65% from two this season.

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Marquette is simply the better team on paper. This may sound obvious since it is a 15-2 matchup, but this is the most unbalanced 15-2 matchup on the board to me. Marquette has more talent and depth than Vermont, and they've proven throughout the season that they can win against tough competition. They also have more experience playing in high-pressure situations, having faced off against tough opponents in their conference and in non-conference play. Marquette has played in 13 quad-one games this season, and they are 8-5. Vermont has played three quad-one games, and they are 0-3.

Beyond their statistical advantages, I think Marquette has a few key strengths that will give them the edge in this matchup. One of those strengths is their ability to play at a fast pace. Vermont likes to slow things down and grind out wins, but Marquette is a team that can score in transition and put pressure on the defense with their speed and athleticism. If they can force Vermont out of their comfort zone and force the Catamounts to play at a faster pace, it could lead to turnovers and easy scoring opportunities for Marquette.

This is the biggest mismatch of the day in my eyes, maybe even bigger than Purdue/FDU. Marquette is the most balanced team on the slate today, and they should blow Vermont out.

Marquette vs. Vermont Pick

• Marquette -10 @ (-110) Bet $100 to collect $190. DraftKings has the best odds, click here