The No. 24 Butler Bulldogs (22-9, 10-8 Big East) take on the Providence Friars (19-12, 12-6 Big East) in the Big East Conference Tourney at Madison Square Garden. The game is scheduled to get underway at 2:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 12, 2020.
The game’s Over/Under (O/U) opened at 131 points at BetRivers with Butler set as a 1-point favorite.
Butler Bulldogs vs. Providence Friars Betting Prediction
The last time the Bulldogs played, they edged the Xavier Musketeers, 72-71, as 2.5-point underdogs. The game’s combined points (143) finished over the projected point total of 128.5. Butler was 8-14 on three pointers (57.1 percent), while Xavier was 6-23 (26.1 percent). Butler was led by Kamar Baldwin, who was the game’s leading scorer with 36 points on 13-for-25 shooting.
The Friars had no trouble getting past the DePaul Blue Demons in their last outing, 93-55, comfortably covering as 10.5-point favorites. The game’s combined points (148) were over the O/U total of 137.5. The Friars made 21 of their 26 free throws (80.8 percent) and had an effective field goal percentage of 0.563 (above their season average of 0.470). With 17 points and eight rebounds, Providence’s Alpha Diallo had a good outing.
Butler heads into the contest with records of 22-9 straight up (SU) and 17-13 against the spread (ATS). Of the Bulldogs’ 30 games with betting action, 17 have finished under the total.
Meanwhile, Providence is 19-12 SU and 15-14-1 ATS. In opposition of Butler, a little over half of Friars games have finished over the projected point total.
The offense of Providence (179th in the country with an offensive efficiency of 102.7) will clash against the stingy defense of Butler (67th in the country with a defensive efficiency of 95.9). The Bulldogs should have the edge on that end of the court.
Butler Bulldogs vs. Providence Friars Free Pick
Pick: ATS Winner – Providence, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
Providence ranks 22nd in steals per game (8.3) while Butler ranks 209th (5.3).
The Bulldogs rank 12th in rebounds allowed per game (30.5) while the Friars rank 176th (35.5).
Over its last five outings, Butler is 4-1 ATS with 3 unders and 2 overs.
Providence is 5-0 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders over its last five games.
The Bulldogs’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 3.4, down from 6.4 for the season.
During their last five games, the Friars have scored an average of 77.6 points per game (6.2 above their season average) and allowed an average of 63.6 points per game (2.6 below their season average).