Despite the Providence Friars already clinching their first Big East regular-season title two days ago, they remain massive underdogs on the road against the Villanova Wildcats.
The Friars have dropped just three games this season but one of those was an 89-84 loss at home to Villanova. Providence has had a whole lot of luck go its way, winning many close games outright.
Will Providence sneak out another win against Villanova? Here are our college basketball betting picks and predictions for the Big East matchup between the Providence Friars and the Villanova Wildcats.
Providence vs Villanova odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
Villanova opened as a nine-point favorite but is now sitting at -9.5 across the board. The total also hasn’t moved much from 134.5 at opening, however, some books are starting to flash a 135.5 number at the time of this writing.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.
Providence vs Villanova predictions
Predictions made on 3/1/2022 at 7:51 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Providence vs Villanova game info
• Location: Finneran Pavilion, Villanova, PA
• Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2022
• Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. ET
• TV: Fox Sports 1
Providence at Villanova betting preview
Injuries
Providence: No injuries to report.
Villanova: No injuries to report.
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Friars are 2-7 against the spread in their last 9 Tuesday games. Find more NCAA betting trends for Providence vs. Villanova .
Providence vs Villanova picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
In the final Big East regular-season game for both teams, the Villanova Wildcats will look to defeat the Providence Friars for the second time this season. Usually, when a team is getting 9.5 points with a record of 24-3, it’s an obvious bet. However, the Friars will have their hands full on the road tonight.
Providence has been an above-average offense and has put together quality defense throughout the year. But there’s nothing elite about this team other than the luck factor and closing out games.
The Friars are shooting an effective field goal percentage of 51% while turning the ball over 17.4% of the time. On the glass, Providence earns 30.1% offensive rebounds, and more often than not, you’ll catch Providence at the foul line on a consistent basis.
From long-distance, Providence has banged 34.9% of threes this season but has scored just 50.2% from inside the arc. The offense is good enough but it needs to be more than that against Villanova.
Villanova is holding opponents to 31.7% from three and 48.1% from inside. On the defensive glass, opponents are averaging just 27.2% offensive rebounds. The Wildcats are also earning 19% turnovers. While Providence likes to get to the line at a high rate, the Wildcats are really good at limiting foul shots this season from their opponents.
On the other hand, Villanova is the much better offense, shooting 36.5% from deep and 50.8% from inside the arc. Villanova will take plenty of shots from three and those tend to fall at a very high rate.
The Wildcats are also able to limit turnovers to 15.7% and Providence hasn't been a threat to force a whole bunch of turnovers this season. Providence has been able to limit offense on the defensive end, keeping teams to 31.3% from three and 46.2% from inside the arc. On the glass, however, Villanova should be able to earn more offensive rebounds and second chances because of that.
I like Villanova to pull away in this game and would take them at -9.5 at home.
Prediction: Villanova -9.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
Providence is still a resilient group. Despite potentially getting knocked out today, the Friars will do whatever they can to stick around. Maybe the game gets chippy or gets out of reach and Providence scores garbage time buckets and fouls after makes.
Either way, Providence will likely drag this game out on the road. Meanwhile, Villanova is one of the best offenses in the country and also shoots 82.7% from the foul line, which is the best rate in the nation.
I’ll grab the over here
Prediction: Over 134.5 (-110)
Best bet
You rarely see a team ranked ninth in the country face a lower-ranked team and start the game as -9.5 underdogs.
But the line is like that for a reason. Oddsmakers are begging the squares to take Providence in this game. The Wildcats are superior in every single area and will prove it tonight.
Pick: Villanova -9.5 (-110)
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