The top two teams in the Big East – the Providence Friars and the Villanova Wildcats – will be duking it out this coming Tuesday, which could very well determine who wins the conference’s regular-season title. Check out our preview of this Providence-Villanova Big East showdown.
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Betting Preview for the Providence Friars vs Villanova Wildcats NCAA College Basketball Game on March 1 2022
Where: The Pavilion Villanova, Villanova, PA
When: Tuesday, March 1, 2022, 6:30 PM ET
Line: Providence Friars (odds) vs. Villanova Wildcats (odds) – view all 2022 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Providence Friars (odds)
Record: 23-2 Overall/12-0 Conference
The Friars will look to close out their schedule in the regular season with another big win. They are on a three-game win streak which started after they suffered an 89-84 home loss to Villanova on Feb. 15. Since then, Providence defeated the Butler Bulldogs (71-70) on the road before winning back to back at home versus the Xavier Musketeers (99-92) and the Creighton Bluejays (72-63). Providence is only 116th in the nation with 72.5 points per game but is 29th in adjusted defensive efficiency with 112.8 points per game. Nate Watson led the Friars in the loss to Villanova with 20 points, while Jared Bynum came off the bench and fired 18 points in 33 minutes. The 5-10 Bynum is arguably the best Providence player this season despite his size. He is 23rd in the nation in assist rate and is averaging 12.7 points per game.
The Over is 4-1 in Providence’s last five games overall.
Betting on the Villanova Wildcats (odds)
Record: 21-7 Overall/8-5 Conference
Villanova is well-rested, as the Wildcats last played on Feb. 22, in a 71-69 road loss to the Connecticut Huskies to snap their five-game win streak. Villanova had that game in the bag, but shocking developments late in regulation favored UConn. Nevertheless, that loss shouldn’t affect the Wildcats quite significantly. This is a well-coached team that has only lost consecutively once this season. Collin Gillespie scored just four points in the first meeting with the Friars, and that says a lot about Villanova’s other players. Justin Moore stepped up in that contest and put up a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Brandon Slater produced 13 points. Villanova also went 11/23 from deep, which wasn’t at all surprising because the Wildcats are 24th this season with 9.3 3-point makes this season on 36.5 percent shooting from the field.
Villanova is 6-4 against the spread in its last 10 games as the home team.
Writer’s Prediction
Villanova wins, 73-65.
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