Upcoming Match-ups

Saint Peter’s vs Murray State Odds and Picks – Peacocks an 8-Point March Madness Underdog

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in College Basketball

Updated Mar 18, 2022 · 9:41 PM PDT

Saint Peter's forward Hassan Drame celebrating his team's win over Kentucky
Saint Peter's forward Hassan Drame celebrates after grabbing a rebound during overtime in a college basketball game against Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. Saint Peter's won 85-79. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
  • A berth in the Sweet 16 will be on the line as the No. 7 Murray State Racers battle the upstart Saint Peter’s Peacocks on Saturday
  • The 15th-seeded Peacocks shocked heavily favored Kentucky with an 85-79 win in the First Round, while the Racers advanced with a 92-87 victory over San Francisco
  • Read on for the Saint Peter’s vs Murray State Odds odds and trends ahead of this Saturday night’s East Region matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

The 15th-seeded Saint Peter’s Peacocks aim to build on their stunning First Round upset victory over Kentucky when they take on the Murray State Racers on Saturday night at 7:45pm ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Trailing by six points in the second half, the Peacocks (20-11 SU, 22-9 ATS) stormed back to force overtime, on their way to an 85-79 win over the heavily favored Wildcats that also marks the team’s first ever victory at the NCAA Tournament.

The Racers (30-2 SU, 16-13-1 ATS) outlasted the San Francisco Dons to claim a 92-87 overtime win on Thursday night. The victory extends Murray State’s current SU win streak to 21 games, and sends them to the Round of 32 for the fourth time in five March Madness appearances.

Saint Peter’s Peacocks vs Murray State Racers Odds

Team Spread Total Moneyline
Saint Peter’s Peacocks +8 (-110) Ov 129.5 (-110) +300
Murray State Racers -8 (-110) Un 129.5 (-110) -385

Odds at Barstool Sportsbook as of March 18, 2022.

The Racers sit as solid 8-point favorites in Saturday night’s contest, while the Peacocks lag as +300 moneyline underdogs. The total for this East Region Second Round clash is set at 129.5

Peacocks vs Racers Betting Trends

Saturday night’s matchup represents the first-ever meeting between these two teams.

Thursday’s victory over the Wildcats extends the Peacocks’ current SU and against the spread win streaks to eight games. It also marked the Peacocks first outright victory while pegged as underdogs by 18 or more points since 2002.

Saint Peter’s has been a reliable bet as an underdog when facing positive odds, going 6-2 SU over its past eight, and covering in eight of their past nine. Listed at No. 31 in adjusted defensive efficiency at Kenpom, the Peacocks’ stingy defence has limited opponents to fewer than 60 points on five occasions during their 8-0 run, while spawning a 5-2-0 run for the UNDER in totals betting.

The No. 7 seed in the East on the March Madness bracket, the Racers are now poised to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in their history. Perched at No. 20 in the AP Top 25 rankings, and at No. 28 in the overall Kenpom ratings, Murray State demonstrated its resilience in Thursday’s entertaining contest, which featured 18 lead changes.

The squad has been dominant at times during a 21-0 run, claiming victory by double-digit margins on 13 occasions. However, they have struggled to meet high expectations at the sportsbooks, covering just twice in their past six overall, and just once in their past eight while favored by at least seven points. The Racers have also been a betting disappointment in past appearances in the Round of 32, going 0-3 SU while falling to defeat by an average margin of 13 points.

Saint Peter’s Peacocks  Outlook

The Peacocks’ current win streak has featured outstanding defensive play. The squad limited the Wildcats to just 42.6% from the field, and to 4-for-15 from beyond the arc. And overall, Saint Peter’s has limited opponents to just 35.0% shooting during the team’s 8-0 run.

Saint Peter’s also benefited enormously in Thursday’s upset win from huge offensive performances by a pair of junior guards. Daryl Banks III led the way, racking up a season-best 27 points while going 5-for-8 from beyond the arc. Doug Edert continued playing his ball of the season, tallying 20 points for the second time in as many outings while seeing just 25 minutes of action.

The Peacocks’ odds to win March Madness improved from +75000 to +30000 after upsetting Kentucky.

Murray State Racers Outlook

The Racers received offensive contributions from up and down the lineup on Thursday, with five shooters tallying double-digit point totals. Sophomore guard Trae Hannibal racked up 18 points on 50% shooting to go along with six rebounds, and has now averaged 5.7 boards per game over his past nine outings.

Leading scorer KJ Williams bounced back after picking up just eight points in the team’s 71-67 win over Morehead State in the OVC Tournament final, dropping 18 points and seven boards. However, Williams went pointless in his lone previous appearance in the Second Round three years ago, when the Racers were outclassed in a 90-62 loss to Florida State.

In the Final Four odds, Murray State benefitted the most from Saint Peter’s stunning Kentucky. The Racers were +4500 to reach the Final Four before the first round. They shot all the way to +750 on Thursday night.

St Peter’s vs Murray State Prediction

The Racers’ experience has paid off this season, and this team has proven worthy of its strong ranking. However, it is unwise to underestimate the Peacock’s stingy defence, which is likely to give Murray State fits all evening.

The Pick: Peacocks +8 (-110)


Other March Madness Content

Second Round Game Previews (Saturday)

  1. Baylor vs UNC Odds, Lines and Spread (12:10 pm ET)
  2. Kansas vs Creighton Odds, Lines, and Spread (2:40 am ET)
  3. Michigan vs Tennessee Odds and Picks (5:15 pm ET)
  4. Richmond vs Providence Odds, Lines and Spread (6:10 pm ET)
  5. UCLA vs Saint Mary’s Odds and Picks (7:10 pm ET)
  6. New Mexico State vs Arkansas Picks and Odds (8:40 pm ET)
  7. Gonzaga vs Memphis Odds and Picks (9:40 pm ET)

Regional Previews

  1. East Region Odds — Baylor Earns Top Seed, Kentucky Favored
  2. Midwest Region Odds See Kansas Favored Over Auburn, Iowa and Wisconsin
  3. South Region Odds: Arizona +110 Favorites, Tennessee & Houston Sleepers
  4. West Regional Odds: Gonzaga Odds-On Favorite to Reach Final Four

General

Author Image