Friars Look to Stay Perfect at Home
Providence is just a game out of first place in the Big East despite losing most of its team from a season ago. This is the type of game that a title contender needs to win with a struggling Butler team coming to town.
It could be a challenge to score from the perimeter in this game considering that Butler and Providence rank third and fourth in the Big East in 3-point percentage defense. The Friars have attempted the fewest 3-pointers in the conference so that could be a bigger issue for the Bulldogs. The teams were 9 of 44 from 3-point range in the most recent meeting and a similar number for this game would not be surprising.
Providence is the only team in the Big East still undefeated (11-0) at home while Butler is 2-5 on the road.
Butler’s top scorer, Manny Bates, is questionable with a knee injury. Jared Bynum, who leads the Friars in assists and is fifth in scoring, is questionable with an abdominal injury. Providence is -15 in turnover margin in the four games that Bynum has missed.
Providence dropped one spot to No. 21 in the coaches’ poll and went from 22nd to 23rd in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
According to the college basketball odds, Providence is priced at +8000 in the odds to win the national title. Providence (+650) trails only Xavier and Marquette in the odds to win the Big East title.
Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports and college basketball lines for Butler vs Providence. We’ve got plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.
Bulldogs Being Outmuscled
When Butler picked up a win over Villanova earlier this month, it could have been a turning point in the Bulldogs’ season.
However, that is certainly not the case. Butler lost at home to Creighton by 21 points and then fell at UConn 86-56.
If there was one constant in those two performances, it was a lack of inside muscle.
The Bulldogs were outrebounded 95-46 in those two games and the offensive rebounding numbers were even more troubling. Butler had seven offensive boards compared to 31 for their opponents.
It doesn’t help that Bates, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer and rebounder, has missed the last three games.
Butler has covered against the Las Vegas odds in just one of its last five games and is 6-13-1 against the spread in the last 20 matchups with Vanderbilt.
Locked In
Former Kentucky forward Bryce Hopkins is the transfer who has generated most of the headlines for Providence. However, Noah Locke is beginning to make his presence felt.
Locke was a three-year starter at Florida before spending the 2021-22 season at Louisville. He scored in double figures in each of his first three games for the Friars. However, his best performance came the last time out when he was 7 of 12 on 3-pointers en route to 29 points in a win over DePaul.
What a performance by Noah Locke today in Providence, a career-high 29 points powered by seven triples as the Friars moved to 11-0 at the AMP this year. Great to be with Donny Marshall for @CBBONFOX!
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) January 21, 2023
It was Locke’s second 20-point effort in the last four outings and if he can continue to contribute, Providence becomes an even more dangerous team.
Hopkins is the reigning Big East Player of the Week as he averaged a double-double so the Friars are getting production from multiple players.
Providence has covered against the college basketball betting lines in 10 of its last 12 games.
Butler vs Providence Game Injuries
Butler vs Providence Head-to-Head
Providence has won each of the last five meetings with Butler and that included a 72-52 win as a three-point road underdog on Dec. 29 as the Friars outrebounded Butler 45-28.
Butler has covered in three of the last four meetings.
Five of the previous six games between the Friars and Bulldogs were decided by six points or less before the matchup earlier this season.
Butler vs Providence Game Information
- Game: Butler (11-10, 3-7 Big East) vs Providence (15-5, 7-2)
- Location: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence
- Day/Time: Wednesday, Jan. 25, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Butler vs Providence Live Stream: TBS.com
Butler vs Providence Betting Lines
Butler vs Providence Picks & Prediction
After back-to-back double-digit point losses, a trip to face Providence is probably not the ideal way to correct the course that Butler is on.
The total has gone under in seven of Butler’s last 10 games, as well as in five of Providence’s previous seven games. The total for this game is currently at 139.
Providence leads the Big East in rebounds, offensive rebounds and rebounding margin while Butler is among the worst rebounding teams in the conference. Hopkins and Ed Croswell rank second and sixth in the Big East in rebounds per game.
Providence is 11-0 when listed by the sportsbook as the favorite while Butler is 1-9 as an underdog.
The Friars have covered in seven of their 11 home games. Butler is just 2-5 against the spread on the road.
Providence is listed at -550 in our Las Vegas college basketball lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Friars, you have a chance to win $18. Butler is +415, offering a chance to win $415 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Providence a 84.62% chance to win, with Butler at 19.42%.
Butler vs Providence Trends
Butler vs Providence Edge
Butler vs Providence Results
Butler vs Providence Game Summary
