.jpg "Providence-at-Villanova-(FS1)")
The Providence Friars have surprised many with their strong start to Big East Conference play, but it would be truly shocking if they keep at it this week. Providence will hit the road to face off against the No. 1 ranked Villanova Wildcats.
Villanova is not just the best team in the conference but quite possibly the nation. The team has very few weaknesses and will be a substantial favorite to take care of business in this showdown. Providence seems to have little chance of winning but if it can at least keep this game close it will be another reason to consider the Friars for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
This war on the floor will go down Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. ET at the Wells Fargo Center. This game will be broadcast on FS1.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Tuesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
Providence is 14-6 straight up but just 7-12 against the spread. The Friars have covered in two of five attempts on the road this year. They are 4-4 against the spread as the underdog.
Villanova is 18-1 straight up and 12-6-1 against the spread. The Wildcats have covered in three of their six games at home this season. Villanova has been favored in every game this season and it certainly won’t change in this one.
Key Stat
4. That’s the number of wins in a row Providence has reeled off in Big East play. The Friars were below average in non-conference play but have only lost twice in conference. They began this streak with an 81-72 upset over then-No. 5 Xavier.
Providence followed that up with a 71-64 win over DePaul, then added wins by double digits over both Butler and Creighton. The Friars have been inconsistent this year, as Creighton beat them by 19 points earlier in the year, but seem to be clicking right now.
Villanova is such a dominant team that it’s still exceedingly unlikely that an upset happens in this one, but Providence’s strong play of late is definitely something to keep in mind when the point spread is released.
Letdown Situation
The only way Villanova doesn’t dominate this one is if it looks past the Friars. The Wildcats are at home and they know they should win. There is a tricky stretch coming up for them.
Villanova has to hit the road to face off against Marquette next and then will return home to face Creighton and No. 19 Seton Hall. The Wildcats have one loss in conference play and can continue to stay ahead of the rest of the pack with some key wins in the next few contests.
Providence is arguably the easiest one of the bunch but Villanova must stay focused in this one and make quick work of the Friars.
Free NCAA Men’s Basketball ATS Picks
Villanova has been the best team in the country thus far and hopes to keep its foot on the gas pedal down the stretch. While Providence has been able to pull some upsets of late, that’s too tall of a task in this one.
While the Wildcats are an easy choice to win, the spread should be interesting. If the Friars aren’t given enough respect, they could be the right choice to cover. The scoring total is also something to watch. Both of these teams have shown the ability to score in bunches of late, but Villanova also has a tough defense.
It should be interesting to see where that number comes in, but the “over” is something that may need to be considered if it comes in too low.
NCAA Men’s Basketball Odds: Villanova 83, Providence 68
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
