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WKU vs Marquette Prediction, Picks, Odds | NCAA Tournament First Round Bets

Kevin Rogers
Kevin Rogers Sports Betting Expert
2 minute read

The First Round of NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament continues on Friday, March 22 -- and the fourth matchup of the day scheduled to tip off is Western Kentucky vs Marquette, which is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET on TBS.

The Golden Eagles are huge 14.5-point favorites on the spread in Friday's contest; with the game total stationed at over/under 158 at most sportsbooks.

Here's everything you need to know about WKU vs Marquette -- our expert prediction and betting picks for this First Round NCAA Tournament matchup.

WKU vs Marquette Odds

WKENT @ MARQ Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
Final
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 767 Western Kentucky
+14.5 -110 +8.5 -110 N/A +8.5 -120 +8.5 -115 +8.5 -110 +8.5 -115 +9 -117 +14.5 -105  
Marquette Golden Eagles 768 Marquette
-14.5 -110 -8.5 -110 N/A -8.5 -110 -8.5 -115 -8.5 -110 -8.5 -115 -9 -109 -14.5 -115  
Final
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 767 Western Kentucky
o157.5 -115 o74.5 -110 o74.5 -112 N/A o74.5 -120 o74.5 -112 o74.5 -120 o74 -110 o156.5 -110  
Marquette Golden Eagles 768 Marquette
u157.5 -105 u74.5 -110 u74.5 -112 N/A u74.5 -110 u74.5 -108 u74.5 -110 u74 -114 u156.5 -110  
Final
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 767 Western Kentucky
+800 N/A N/A +375 +375 +390 N/A +440 +890  
Marquette Golden Eagles 768 Marquette
-1400 N/A N/A -550 -550 -520 N/A -590 -1700  
Final
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 767 Western Kentucky
+14.5 -110 +10.5 -110 +7.5 -118 N/A N/A N/A N/A +7 -113 +14.5 -105  
Marquette Golden Eagles 768 Marquette
-14.5 -110 -10.5 -110 -7.5 -106 N/A N/A N/A N/A -7 -113 -14.5 -115  
Final
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 767 Western Kentucky
o157.5 -115 o84 -110 o81.5 -114 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A o156.5 -110  
Marquette Golden Eagles 768 Marquette
u157.5 -105 u84 -110 u81.5 -110 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A u156.5 -110  
Final
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 767 Western Kentucky
+800 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A +890  
Marquette Golden Eagles 768 Marquette
-1400 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A -1700  

WKU vs Marquette Prediction

Second-team All-American guard Tyler Kolek is expected back for Marquette on Friday after missing the last three games with an oblique injury.

The Golden Eagles face Conference USA champion Western Kentucky, who is in the Big Dance for the first time since 2013.

Since Shaka Smart took VCU to the Final Four in 2011, the head coach has struggled to cover numbers in the NCAA Tournament.

At VCU, Texas, and Marquette, Smart's teams are 3-7 ATS and 2-8 SU in his last 10 games in the NCAA Tournament.

The Hilltoppers posted a solid 8-3 ATS mark as an underdog this season, as they are a double-digit 'dog for the second time (beat Louisiana Tech at +10 in February).

The last 14 wins for Marquette came against teams that did not make the NCAA Tournament.

Pick: Western Kentucky +14.5 (-110)

WKU vs Marquette Game Time & TV Channel

Date: Friday, March 22
Matchup: C-USA vs Big East
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Time-TV: TBS, 2:00 p.m. ET

WKU vs Marquette Betting Stats

2) Marquette Golden Eagles
(Big East, At-Large)

  • Futures: +2300
  • Region: +600
  • SU: 25-9
  • ATS: 20-13-1
  • O/U: 14-20
  • PPG: 79.2
  • OPPG: 69.8

15) Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
(Conference USA, Automatic)

  • Futures: +40000
  • Region: +15000
  • SU: 22-11
  • ATS: 19-11
  • O/U: 15-15
  • PPG: 80.2
  • OPPG: 75.0

March Madness Betting Resources

March Madness First Round Odds

The NCAA Men's Tournament First Round will take place on Thursday March 21, 2024 and Friday March 22, 2024.

Check out the Teams, Odds, Betting Stats and much more on each of the four regions below:

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Kevin Rogers

Kevin Rogers

Kevin has been handicapping professionally since 2007 at VegasInsider before shifting to ScoresAndOdds. He focuses on MLB, NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball, and NHL and mainly uses trends, systems, and situations as his top handicapping angles. More from Kevin Rogers
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