Villanova Wildcats vs Providence Friars Prediction, 3/6/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Villanova Wildcats vs Providence Friars

Date: Saturday, March 6, 2021

Location: Alumni Hall (RI) in Providence, RI

TV: FOX

Odds/Point Spread: Villanova (-4.5)

The Providence Friars (12-12) play the Villanova Wildcats (16-4) at Alumni Hall (RI) on Saturday. Villanova opens this game as 4.5-point favorites. The total has been set at 137.

Villanova comes into this game with a record of 16-4 on the season. They lose possession by turning the ball over 9.3 times per contest and as a basketball team they are committing 15.4 personal fouls per contest. As a unit, Villanova is pulling in 34.4 rebounds per game and is sitting with 315 dimes on the season, which is 125th in the nation in terms of passing. The Wildcats are connecting on 36.0% on 3-point shots (190 of 528) and 78.4% from the free throw line. They average 77.0 points per contest (58th in D-1) while going 45.6% from the floor. On the defensive end of the court, the Wildcats are able to force 12.8 turnovers per contest and they draw 16.6 personal fouls. The Wildcats are giving up and opponent field goal percentage of 45.1% (502 of 1,113) and they concede 32.5 rebounds per contest as a group. They rank 106th in the nation in giving up assists with 246 conceded this season. They are conceding 35.5% on three-point shots and they rank 103rd in college hoops in PPG allowed (67.6).

The Villanova Wildcats stepped onto the hardwood against the Creighton Bluejays and notched a win by a score of 72-60 in their last game. Villanova ended the contest with a 48.3% FG percentage (28 of 58) and buried 9 of 26 three-point attempts. At the charity stripe, the Wildcats made 7 of 8 shots for a percentage of 87.5%. In terms of grabbing boards, they compiled 37 with 5 of them being on the offensive end. They also recorded 21 dimes in this game while forcing the other team into 9 turnovers and earning 7 steals. In reference to defense, Villanova let their opponent shoot 38.7% from the field on 24 out of 62 shooting. Creighton dished out 16 assists and had 7 steals in the game. In addition, Creighton pulled down 30 boards (6 offensive, 24 defensive) and had 3 rejections. Creighton ended up shooting 28.6% when shooting free throws by knocking down 2 of their 7 attempts. They knocked down 10 of 33 shots from beyond the perimeter.

Justin Moore is one guy who was a contributor in the game. He accounted for 24 points on 9 out of 12 shooting. He played 31 minutes and also totaled 5 rebounds. Moore finished 75.0% from the field and distributed 5 assists. One more player that was a contributor in the game for the Wildcats was Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. He pulled down 14 rebounds in his 36 min played on the night. He finished shooting 46.2% from the field in the game by shooting 6-of-13 (14 points). Overall, Robinson-Earl collected 5 assists.

Providence has a mark of 12-12 on the campaign. The Friars have committed 16.8 fouls every game and they hit 71.5% from the charity stripe. Their rate of dishing out assists is at 13.8 times per game (130th in college basketball) and they are turning it over 11.7 times per contest. Providence has scored 1,700 pts on the campaign (70.8 per game) and they grab 35.7 boards per contest. On the offensive side of the ball, the Friars are connecting on 43.4% from the field, which ranks 224th in the country. The Friars on defense are ranked 189th in college basketball in PPG given up with 70.5. The Providence defense concedes 30.2% on shots from behind the 3-point line (146 of 484) and opponents are converting on 70.9% of their shots from the charity stripe. They have allowed 13.0 assists and 36.0 total rebounds per game, which is 182nd and 239th in those defensive categories. They are forcing 11.5 TO's per game and have let teams shoot 43.9% from the floor (203rd in Division 1).

The last time they took the hardwood, the Providence Friars took a loss by a final score of 81-67 against the St. John's Red Storm. The Friars were able to snag 22 defensive boards and 9 offensive boards totaling 31 in this game. They also turned the ball over 11 times, while recording 7 steals for the matchup. The Red Storm were called for 15 personal fouls for this game which took the Friars to the charity stripe for 13 tries. They were able to convert 7 of the free throw attempts for a percentage of 53.8%. With regard to shots from 3-point land, Providence converted 4 of 23 attempts (17.4%). Overall, the Friars ended up shooting 28 out of 65 from the field which gave them a shooting percentage of 43.1%. The Friars allowed the Red Storm to bury 28 of 61 attempts from the floor which gave them a rate of 45.9% for this game. They finished the game shooting 25.0% from beyond the arc by hitting 5 of 20 and ended up going 20 of 26 at the free throw line (76.9%). Concerning how they rebounded, Providence permitted St. John's to snag 38 overall (9 offensive).

Nate Watson was important for the Friars in this game. He converted 9 out of 13 for this contest giving him a field goal percentage of 69.2%, and totaled 5 rebounds. Watson accumulated 19 points in his 33 mins on the hardwood, but went home with no dimes. An additional guy who was a determining factor for Providence was David Duke. He came away with 3 dimes in 35 mins played, and he knocked down 6 of 14 from the floor. Duke walked away from this one going 42.9% from the floor in addition to totaling 16 points and 9 total rebounds.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Villanova (-4.5)

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