Baylor vs. UC Santa Barbara Odds, Opening Spread, Start Time for 2023 NCAA Tournament

Baylor vs. UC Santa Barbara Odds, Opening Spread, Start Time for 2023 NCAA Tournament article feature image
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Baylor vs. UC Santa Barbara Odds

Baylor Odds-600
UC Santa Barbara Odds+450
Opening Spread/Current SpreadBaylor -11/Baylor -10.5
Over/Under143
March Madness odds for Baylor-UC Santa Barbara via bet365.

With the men's 2023 NCAA Tournament bracket finally set, March Madness is officially underway.

Find out how 3-seeded Baylor and 14-seeded UC Santa Barbara matchup statistically, plus how our college basketball betting experts are projecting this first-round matchup to play out.

Baylor vs UC Santa Barbara will tip off at 1:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 17 on TNT.


Statistical Matchup

BaylorUC Santa Barbara
217Tempo302
OFFDEF
55eFG%134
170TO%136
18R%72
40FTR121
DEFOFF
232eFG%31
77TO %79
299R%241
186FTR75
All statistics courtesy of ShotQuality.


Instant Analysis

This is a dangerous matchup for Baylor here in the first round because of how bad the Bears have been at defending the rim. Baylor is allowing the highest field goal percentage at the rim — a whopping 72.6%, per Hoop-Math. UC Santa Barbara, meanwhile, has the 41st-highest frequency on those shot attempts.

UC Santa Barbara also gets to the free-throw line at a top-75 rate in the country, which is an area that Baylor struggles defensively, ranking outside the top 80.

The Bears are without a doubt on upset watch.

— BJ Cunningham

For more coverage of the 2023 NCAA Tournament and Selection Sunday, make sure to check out our experts' live reactions to the bracket reveal and the Selection Sunday live show, where you can get their instant analysis on every matchup as well as some early insights to help you make your bets.

Don't forget to print out your 2023 NCAA Tournament bracket, as well — and while you're there, enter the bet 365 Bracket Challenge content for your chance to win up to $10,000,000. Enter for free at actionnetwork.com/bracket.

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Mar 28, 2024 UTC