Providence Friars at Connecticut Huskies, Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, CT
Sunday, February 13, 2011, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN3
Opening Line: UConn -10
Current Line: UConn -9.5
Opening Total: 149
Current Total: 149.5
Money Line: UConn -500 / Providence +400
The 10th-ranked Connecticut Huskies (18-5, 6-5 Big East) have dropped three of their last four games and now host a team on Sunday that they have struggled against recently in the Providence Friars (14-10, 3-8). The Huskies (-9.5) have failed to cover the spread in all four of those games while the Friars have gone 4-1 straight-up and against the spread in the last five meetings.
The main issue for Providence in this one will be trying to win on the road against a Big East opponent for the first time in 14 games. The Friars nearly ended their 13-game road losing streak in conference play against Georgetown last Saturday, but a career-high 43 points from Marshon Brooks were not enough in an 83-81 loss. Brooks connected on 17 of 28 shots from the field – including 7 of 10 from beyond the 3-point line – and also grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
The team had won three of its previous four games before falling to the Hoyas following a brutal 0-6 start against league foes. Two of those wins for Providence came against Top 15 opponents at home in Louisville and Villanova by a combined 20 points. The Friars are 0-7 on the road overall this season, with their only win away from home coming in a neutral site game against Wyoming in Cancun back on November 24.
UConn’s only win in its last four games was a 61-59 victory against Seton Hall last Saturday. The Huskies followed that up with an 89-72 loss to St. John’s at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. Kemba Walker continued his shooting slump against the Red Storm, making just 4 of 16 shots from the field to finish with 15 points. Walker is averaging 15.3 points in the last six games on 30.5 percent shooting and hopes to get back on track against Providence.
The key for the Friars this season has been whether or not they can hold their opponents in check defensively. When they limit teams to 78 points or less, they are an impressive 14-1. That has also been the difference in their matchups with Connecticut, as the Huskies have failed to score more than 76 points in the last four losses in the series and routed Providence 94-61 in the other meeting.
Outside of their last games, both teams have been involved in low-scoring games lately. The UNDER cashed in the previous four games for the Friars before the loss to Georgetown and went 7-1 in UConn’s previous eight games before the setback at St. John’s.
Now that you have read this Big East college basketball betting preview featuring Georgetown & Providence, check out the NCAA basketball odds on this and all the games to compare the best lines at multiple sportsbooks.
