No. 8 Providence could all but wrap up the Big East regular-season title on Tuesday night if the Friars can knock off visiting No. 10 Villanova. However, the Wildcats are 4.5-point favorites.

Somehow, these schools haven’t played yet this season. Providence leads the Big East at 11-1 and Villanova is second at 13-3. They will play again in Philadelphia on March 1. Tuesday will be only the third Top 10 matchup in the nearly 40-year history of the Dunkin Donuts Center. The last time these schools met as members of the Top 25 came in 2015-16.

Last season, each team picked up the win on its home floor. The Wildcats are 18-18 (.500) all-time at the Dunkin Donuts Center (Providence Civic Center).

NitroBetting covers the Villanova vs. Providence essentials. We feature important game details, team and player stats, and the latest NCAAB odds. More than that, you can find betting trends and predictions that help you lock in on the best picks.

Villanova vs. Providence Game Information

Next Stop: ? Providence, RI pic.twitter.com/h3Vwm9jL6f

— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) February 15, 2022

• When: Tuesday, February 15, 2021, 8:00 PM ET
• Where: Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, RI
• TV: CBSSN
• Radio: KTXX 104.9 FM (Villanova) / KRZI-AM 1660 (Providence)
• Live Stream: WatchESPN
• NCAAB Betting Odds: Villanova (-4) / Providence (+4)

Why Bet on the Villanova Wildcats?

Current projections have as many as seven of the Big East’s 11 teams positioned to receive an NCAA Tournament bid when the field of 68 is revealed in a little less than four weeks. Villanova head coach Jay Wright has no doubt about the quality of the conference this season.

“Our conference is the best basketball conference in the country,” stated Wright. “Year in, year out. Night in, night out. It’s just awesome and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Villanova (19-6) comes off a 73-67 home win over Seton Hall on Saturday as the Wildcats scored the game’s final six points. Jermaine Samuels and Justin Moore each scored 16 points to lead Villanova. Moore (left ankle) and potential Big East Player of the Year Collin Gillespie (right ankle) both continued to play through sprains suffered in games last week. They will both play here.

Villanova converted 15-of-16 free throw attempts vs. Seton Hall (.938). The Wildcats lead the nation in free throw percentage at .829 and have connected on .860 of their attempts in Big East games. Nova is 5-4 this season against ranked teams. In his first season as a starter, forward Eric Dixon has developed into a consistent interior scoring threat for the Wildcats. He had 10 points and six boards vs. Seton Hall and in Big East games is Villanova’s third leading scorer at 11.9 points per game. He also averages 7.5 rebounds per outing in conference games and connects on .557 of his field goal attempts.

Brandon Slater has found his rhythm offensively for Nova. After scoring five or fewer points in seven straight games, the senior forward is averaging 13.5 points and shooting 60.0% from the field over his past four contests.

Why Bet on the Providence Friars?

Providence (21-2) perhaps was caught looking ahead to this game Saturday as it barely escaped at home vs. DePaul, 76-73 in OT. Jared Bynum led the Friars in scoring for the third consecutive game, recording 25 points. The Blue Demons held the lead for 73.3% of the game, while the Friars led for only 14.1%. The Friars have won eight consecutive Big East regular season games in the same season for the first time in program history.

The Friars are off to their best start to a season since 1972-73 when they posted a 21-2 mark through the first 23 games. Providence has posted Quad 1 wins at Wisconsin, at home versus Texas Tech, at UConn, at Xavier and at home versus Marquette. The Friars have a NCAA NET ranking of 29. They have posted a 127-271 (.319) mark all-time versus Top 25 teams, including a 4-0 mark this season.

Bynum was named Big East Player of the Week on Monday for the second week in a row. Bynum ranks third on the team in scoring at 11.6 ppg. He leads the team in three-point shooting (29-63, .460).

Providence’s roster features five graduate students. It marks the first time ever the Friars have had five graduate students on the roster. Their top seven players – Nate Watson (145 games), Noah Horchler (110 games), Al Durham (146 games), AJ Reeves (97 games), Bynum (69 games), Justin Minaya (101 games) and Ed Croswell (105 games) have combined to play 77 combined collegiate games. Watson is one of 10 finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, which goes to the nation’s top center.

Villanova vs. Providence Betting Trends

• Villanova is 6-1 SU in the last 7 games.
• Villanova is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 games against Providence.
• The total went under in 6 of Villanova’s last 6 games when playing on the road against Providence.
• Providence are 8-0 SU in the last 8 games.
• Providence are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 games played in February.
• The total went over in 6 of Providence’s last 9 games.

Villanova vs. Providence Expert Betting Prediction

Take Providence +4.5

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at NitroBetting news. Stay tuned for more NCAAB game previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest Basketball betting odds on the sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.