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The Butler Bulldogs take on the Providence Friars. Our college basketball odds series has our Butler Providence prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Butler Providence.
The Providence Friars are trying to win back-to-back Big East Conference championships. They aren't in the driver's seat, but they have a very realistic chance of pulling off a highly improbable feat. Providence had never previously won the Big East regular season title. The Friars had won the Big East Tournament twice, in 1994 and 2014, but never the regular season crown. The simple possibility of going back-to-back, even if unrealized, shows how far coach Ed Cooley has brought this program. What makes this season even more impressive is that Cooley lost his starting five from 2022 and was able to piece together a new roster with Bryce Hopkins and other players from the transfer portal, combined with reserves from last season's team. Cooley has mastered the art of roster construction.
Providence is one game behind first-place Xavier, half a game behind second-place Marquette, for the Big East lead. Xavier, though, is playing two tough road games this week at UConn and Creighton. Providence could soon tie for the conference lead. It's all right there for the Friars.
Here are the Butler-Providence college basketball odds, courtesy of FanDuel:
College Basketball Odds: Butler-Providence Odds
Butler Bulldogs: +10.5 (-115)
Providence Friars: -10.5 (-105)
Over: 138.5 (-110)
Under: 138.5 (-110)
How To Watch Butler vs. Providence
TV: Fox Sports 1
Stream: Fox Sports App
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. PT
*Watch Butler-Providence LIVE with fuboTV (Click for free trial)*
Why Butler Could Cover The Spread
The Providence Friars have done such a good job this season and have performed a lot of heavy lifting to this point. They are bound to have a bad game, or if not a bad game, certainly a game in which they don't play with maximum intensity and supreme precision. The Friars aren't going to be at their very best every night. We have seen this dynamic play out elsewhere in the Big East, most notably with Xavier — having a great season and leading the Big East — losing at DePaul several days ago. That's exactly the kind of letdown game Providence is vulnerable to in this situation. The spread is a double-digit spread. Butler, having gotten blown out by UConn on Sunday, is bound to play a lot better and create a competitive game.
Why Providence Could Cover The Spread
The Friars are defending Big East champions, and they're unbeaten at home. Start there. This team plays well at home, and it gets energy from the crowd which is a safeguard against flat and uninspired performances. Providence will look at the Big East standings and see that it is right there in the thick of the hunt for the Big East championship. If Xavier loses to UConn and Providence beats Butler, the Friars will tie the Musketeers and Marquette at 8-2 in the Big East standings. The Friars are definitely going to be motivated and hungry in this game. Do not expect the letdown which could enable Butler to cover the spread. Providence is not going to succumb to that element of vulnerability in this contest.
Final Butler-Providence Prediction & Pick
Providence is a far, far better team than Butler, but the obvious question is the motivation level. Playing for a chance to tie for first place in the Big East offers more than enough motivation. Take Providence.
Final Butler-Providence Prediction & Pick: Providence -10.5
