The Villanova Wildcats look to earn the season sweep when they battle the Providence Friars in a key Big East Conference matchup on Saturday. The Wildcats (16-12, 9-8 Big East), who earned a 68-50 win over Providence on Feb. 4, are looking to avenge last year's season sweep at the hands of the Friars (18-10, 9-8 Big East). Providence won both meetings, including an 85-72 win on its home court on Feb. 18. Villanova is coming off a 75-47 win over Georgetown on Tuesday, while Providence dropped a 91-69 decision at Marquette on Wednesday.
The game will tip off at noon ET at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I. Villanova is averaging 71.8 points per game, while Providence averages 73.8. The Friars are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Villanova vs. Providence odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 134. Before making any Providence vs. Villanova picks, you need to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 17 of the 2023-24 season on a 139-94 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $2,300 for $100 players. It also is off to a sizzling 25-14 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Villanova vs. Providence and revealed its CBB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Providence vs. Villanova:
- Villanova vs. Providence spread: Providence -2.5
- Villanova vs. Providence over/under: 134 points
- Villanova vs. Providence money line: Villanova +124, Providence -148
- NOVA: The Wildcats have hit the game total under in 20 of their last 32 games (+6.80 units)
- PROV: The Friars have won13 of their last 17 games at home (+4.65 units on ML)
- Villanova vs. Providence picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Providence can cover
Sophomore guard Jayden Pierre has played well of late and has started 24 of the 25 games he has seen action. In a 79-75 win at Xavier on Feb. 21, he scored a season-high-tying 17 points, while dishing out five assists and adding three rebounds and three steals. The first time he scored 17 came in a 75-73 loss at St. John's on Jan. 10. He had nine points, three assists and two rebounds against Marquette. Pierre has reached double figures in 11 games, and is averaging nine points, 3.4 assists, 2.3 rebounds and one steal in 30.4 minutes.
The Friars are also getting a lift from the play of senior guard Ticket Gaines, who is playing his first season at Providence after a two-year stint at George Mason. Prior to that, he played two years at Tennessee. In 28 games, all starts, Gaines is averaging 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and one steal in 32.4 minutes. He is coming off a 15-point, five-rebound, three-assist and two-block performance in the loss at Marquette. See which team to pick here.
Why Villanova can cover
Leading the way for the Wildcats is senior forward Eric Dixon, who has started all 28 games in 2023-24. He has been red hot of late, scoring at least 20 points in each of the last three matchups. In a 78-54 loss to top-ranked UConn on Feb. 24, he nearly picked up his second double-double of the season, scoring 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds. He scored 22 points and added six rebounds in the win over Georgetown. He scored 12 points in the first meeting against the Friars. For the year, Dixon is averaging 16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 29.7 minutes.
With senior guard T.J. Bamba expected to miss the game due to a facial fracture, the Wildcats will look toward senior guard Justin Moore to help pick up some of the slack. He is coming off a 14-point, three-rebound and two-assist effort in the win over Georgetown on Tuesday. It was the third time in four games that Moore has reached double-digit scoring. For the season, he is averaging 10 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists. See which team to pick here.
How to make Providence vs. Villanova picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 142 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time. You can see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Villanova vs. Providence, and which side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets from a model that's 25-14 on top-rated college basketball picks this season, and find out.
