Kentucky vs Santa Clara: Expert Picks and Predictions for NCAA First Round
The 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament resumes Friday with a First Round matchup between No. 7 Kentucky and No. 10 Santa Clara. The game is part of a 16-game slate on the opening weekend of the 68-team field.
Game details
Kentucky and Santa Clara meet at Enterprise Center on March 20. Tip time is 12:15 p.m. ET. CBS will broadcast the contest, and it can be streamed on Fubo.
| Market | Line |
|---|---|
| Opening Moneyline | Kentucky (-162) |
| Opening Spread | Kentucky (-2.5) |
| Opening Total | 161.5 |
Expert picks and predictions
Filmogaz.com reporters offered their takes on Kentucky vs Santa Clara. These expert picks and predictions reflect varied views across the panel.
- Ehsan Kassim: Santa Clara
- John Leuzzi: Santa Clara
- Craig Meyer: Kentucky
- Jordan Mendoza: Santa Clara
What to watch
Santa Clara drew the most support among the panelists. Kentucky opened as a slight favorite in betting markets. The spread suggests a close contest.
Expect emphasis on turnovers and three-point shooting. Those categories could decide the winner in this NCAA First Round clash.
Tournament timeline
- March 17-18: First Four
- March 19-20: First Round
- March 21-22: Second Round
- March 26-27: Sweet 16
- March 28-29: Elite 8
- April 4: Final Four
- April 6: National Championship
