Providence vs Uconn -5.5 O/U 132
This game is really about what have you done for me lately. Providence looks to be catching a good amount of points with a pretty low total. Both of these teams just faced each other 6 says ago at UCONN with Providence winning the game handily, 70-59. What has changed to put them at such a dog status? Uconn is coming off of a nice win vs a mediocre Xavier team but if you look at their last 6 games, they lost 4 of them. As a matter of fact, Uconn’s best win is against Xavier since mid December. Providence is finally healthy with Jared Bynum back in the line-up. Bynum transferred in last year. He was St Joseph’s best player in 2019. The Friars looked good over the past few games in my opinion and they have some nice wins vs number 16 on Kenpom Creighton and number 32 Seton Hall. If you look at what Providence did down the stretch last year, it was simply go undefeated in Big East play from Mid-February until the Covid cancellations. Now the Huskies are a solid team that plays very good defense but they certainly do not shoot lights out and I don’t see how they have such a great advantage over Providence here especially with such a low total. Both of these teams shoot 43% FG, 71% Free throw. Both teams also average 71 points per game. Uconn has the 3 point shooting advantage at 35% to 32%. This spread is too high for such a low total in Big East play. Taking the Friars.
Providence +5.5 – 2.5 star and sprinkle
Michigan State vs Purdue -5.5 O/U 136.5
This is a Big 10 matchup with both teams coming off losses. Michigan State got straight up embarrassed at home vs Iowa. Rocket Watts had to leave that game due to a stomach issue but they think that he will play here. Purdue was beating the Gophers all game last week Thursday and then they choked that lead away towards the end by missing shots and turning the ball over. Michigan State isn’t the team that they used to be with Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman gone but I can see them stepping up on the defensive side of the ball after such a beat down. One thing that is for sure is that both of these teams can be dangerous when backed into a corner so I am not excited to lay the juice with this Purdue team who just cares about winning the game. I think that the best look for this game is the under. Michigan State has slowed it down since big 10 conference play averaging 16.8 seconds per possession for the season and just 17.5 for Big 10 conference play. Purdue has the done the same averaging 18.6 seconds per possession for the season to 19 seconds in just conference play. These teams already played once and Purdue won it 55-54. Due to this I think that the total is a bit high and my number is 131.
Under 136.5 – 2 star
