Providence Friars vs. Villanova Wildcats Predictions, Picks, Odds

Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

The Providence Friars (24-3, 14-2 Big East) visit the Villanova Wildcats (21-7, 14-4) at Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, Pa. on Tuesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on CBS Sports Network.

Score Prediction

Villanova 76 Providence 65

Best Bet

Villanova -9 (-110)
Over 134.5 (-110)

PROVIDENCE FRIARS VS. VILLANOVA WILDCATS PREDICTIONS

Providence secured the first-ever Big East regular-season title with its win over Creighton on Saturday. The Friars blasted the Bluejays 72-51 to lock up the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament. It still has some unfinished business, however, as the Friars fell at Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence by an 89-84 score as four-point underdogs on Feb. 15 as the OVER easily connected.

Providence shot a respectable 48% (30-of-62) in that game, while turning it over just nine times. It also held a 33-to-32 edge in the rebounding department, but Villanova was just a little sharper from the floor at 51% (29-of-57), while getting to the line 26 times, and converting 20 free throws, as opposed to just 70% (19-of-27) for the home side. The differences weren't very stark at all, but it was the little things that made the difference in the first meeting.

PROVIDENCE FRIARS VS. VILLANOVA WILDCATS BETTING ODDS

• Providence +340
• Villanova -455
• Providence +9 (-110)
• Villanova -9 (-110)
• Over 134.5 (-110)
• Under 135.5 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

PROVIDENCE FRIARS VS. VILLANOVA WILDCATS BETTING RESOURCES

• Matchup: Big East
• Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2022
• Venue: Finneran Pavilion
• Location: Villanova, Pa.
• TV-Time: FS1 - 6:30 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

PROVIDENCE FRIARS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 24-3
• ATS: 16-11
• O/U: 14-13

Providence has bounced back with three consecutive victories, including two in overtime, since its last setback at home against Villanova on Feb. 15. The Friars rolled up a 19-point win over Creighton in emphatic fashion to lock up the Big East regular-season title and No. 1 seed. The defensive effort was its best statistically, holding the Bluejays to a season-low 51 points as the UNDER connected.

The Friars have yo-yoed against the number lately, covering the past two, following an 0-3 ATS skid. That came after a 3-1 ATS run from Jan. 26-Feb. 6, including a 3-0 ATS mark on the road. Providence failed to cover its most recent road game, a 71-70 OT win at Butler on Feb. 20, but it is a healthy 6-2 ATS across the past eight road outings. Even more impressive, the Friars are 9-1 ATS in the past 10 games as an underdog.

For totals, the UNDER against Creighton snapped a 3-0 OVER run, including the first meeting with Villanova which produced 173 combined points against a total of just 132.5 points. It was a rare OVER in this series, as the UNDER has cashed in the previous four meetings.

VILLANOVA WILDCATS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 21-7
• ATS: 14-13-1
• O/U: 14-14

Villanova has posted an impressive 11-1 SU mark at Finneran Pavilion this season, with only Marquette escaping with an upset victory back on Jan. 19 as 13.5-point underdogs. Villanova is just 2-4 ATS in the past six games at home, too.

The Wildcats have managed to go just 1-3-1 ATS across the past five games, pushing in a 71-69 loss at Connecticut on Feb. 22 in the most recent outing. The Wildcats are also a dismal 3-7-1 ATS in the past 11 games overall, too, although the win and cover against Providence occurred during that time.

For totals, the OVER is 3-1 in the past four games overall, while going 5-2 across the past seven outings. The UNDER is 7-3 in the past 10 games at home for the Wildcats, however.

INSIDE THE STATS - PROVIDENCE FRIARS

• Record: 24-3
• PS/G: 72.5 (149th)
• PA/G: 66.2 (89th)
• ORtg: 107.2 (79th)
• DRtg: 98.0 (134th)

INSIDE THE STATS - VILLANOVA WILDCATS

• Record: 21-7
• PS/G: 73.6 (120th)
• PA/G: 63.4 (31st)
• ORtg: 113.2 (16th)
• DRtg: 97.6 (124th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

• PROV: Aljami Durham - G (13.3 PPG, 3.4 APG, 3.0 RPG, 85.0 FT%)
• PROV: Nate Watson - C (14.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 0.8 BPG, 56.3 FG%)
• NOVA: Connor Gillespie - G (16.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 42.6 3P%, 92.2 FT%)
• NOVA: Justin Moore - G (15.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 35.7 3P%)

PROVIDENCE FRIARS VS. VILLANOVA WILDCATS BETTING CONCLUSION

Providence is in a little bit of a dangerous spot. The team already locked up the regular-season tie, so win or lose in this one, it has nothing to lose. This isn't a team accustomed to winning a lot lately, and being fat and happy might not be a good place to be against an experienced and proud Villanova team.

I like Jay Wright has his Wildcats ready, looking to send a message to the visiting Friars, not only for Tuesday, but for down the road. The Friars might have locked up the regular-season title, but there is still plenty left to play for in the Big East Tournament and beyond. Connor Gillespie is still the best player on the floor in this one, and the Wildcats are at home. I like the Wildcats to actually win this one rather handily in front of a raucous crowd despite the fact the trends point to a Providence cover. Go the other way.

PROVIDENCE FRIARS VS. VILLANOVA WILDCATS BETTING TRENDS

• Providence is 6-2 ATS in the past eight road games.
• Providence is 9-1 ATS in the past 10 as an underdog.
• Villanova is 3-7-1 ATS in the past 11 games overall.
• Villanova is 2-4 ATS in the past six home games.
• The OVER is 4-1 in the past five games for Providence.
• The UNDER is 6-3 in the past nine road games for Providence.
• The UNDER is 7-3 in the past 10 home games for Villanova.
• Villanova is 6-2 ATS in the past eight meetings.
• The favorite is 6-2 ATS in the past eight meetings.
• The UNDER is 4-1 in the past five meetings.

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish