Providence College Worthy Favorites Over Rhode Island

Unsurprisingly, URI coasted to a 97-59 victory and then prepared to meet an opponent last Sunday that was in a different galaxy. Ivy League entry, Yale, was that opponent and the Rams found themselves going from an unlined favorite to a 6½-point home underdog.

It must have been the mojo from their 38-point win over J&W that carried into their battle with Yale, as junior guard Luis Kortright led the Rams with 15 points en route to a 76-72 upset over the Bulldogs. It should be noted URI handily beat Yale on the boards, posting 40 rebounds to

26.

Friars Look to Make It 4 Straight

After seven games, Providence sits near the top of a logjammed Big East with only powerhouse UConn boasting a better record than the Friars’ 6-1 mark. Providence has had it easy over its last pair of games with a 78-64 win over Lehigh, and in the Friars’ last outing notched an 86-52 victory over Wagner, easily covering as 21½-point home chalk.

Providence has impressed with 5 of 6 wins coming by double digits. The Friars have dropped only one game, a 73-70 loss to Kansas State in which they narrowly failed to cover the college basketball odds as 1½-point home hounds.

With wins over Georgia, Lehigh, and Wagner, Providence is seeking its fourth straight victory and will look to duplicate its efforts from last season when the Friars traveled 40 minutes South to take on URI in the Rams’ gym and left with an 88-74 victory, easily covering as 5-point road favorites.

Rhode Island vs Providence Game Information

• Game: Rhode Island (5-2) vs Providence (6-1)
• Date/Time: Saturday, December 2, 2023 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI
• Rhode Island vs Providence Live Stream: TBS.com

Rhode Island vs Providence Betting Lines

Rams vs Friars Best Bet

I’m just not sure how URI is going to hang and bang with Providence on Saturday night. Neither team will light up the scoreboard as they are both scoring around 76 points per game. However, the Friars have a suffocating defense and are ranked 30th in the nation, surrendering 62.9 points per game.

Sights & Sounds: Game 7 vs. Wagner pic.twitter.com/0TwSXhRwhI

— Providence MBB (@PCFriarsmbb) November 30, 2023

The Rams simply don’t have enough firepower to overcome the Friars’13th ranked shooting defense. Providence holds their opposition to 36.6% from the floor and 28% from beyond the arc and Rhode Island will be unable to overcome that disadvantage. I see the Friars extending their lead and frustrating the Rams’ offense as the game grows older and this margin of victory grows wider.

The college basketball lines being hung on this game don’t scare me. There is little doubt Providence will do what it routinely does, win by double digits. Lay the lumber and cash a ticket on the Friars.

NCAAB Pick: Providence -13½

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