Providence (18-7 straight up, 15-10 against the spread) is undefeated in 13 home games with an 8-5 spread record. The Friars have won 10 of their last 12 home games by margins of at least 11 points.
They’ve won outright in both previous games as home underdogs, beating Marquette and UConn. In fact, Ed Cooley’s squad is 6-1 ATS with five outright victories in its last seven games as an underdog (whether at home or on the road).
Creighton (17-8 SU, 12-13 ATS) is on an eight-game winning streak, but the Bluejays are only 3-4 both SU and ATS in seven road assignments. When these schools met at this venue last year, Providence won 72-51 as a four-point home ‘chalk.’
Greg McDermott’s team won a 73-67 decision in Omaha back on Jan. 14, but the Friars took the cash as seven-point road underdogs. Therefore, Cooley’s club has the revenge angle tonight, in addition to being in that role it’s thrived in as an underdog. PU wins outright.
The Pick: Providence +2.5
Let’s also back Georgia -4.5 at home tonight vs. LSU. The Tigers have lost 12 games in a row with 10 of those defeats coming by double-digit margins. The Tigers have lost 11 times by at least eight points during this 12-game skid.
Georgia improved to 12-2 at home this past Saturday with a 75-68 win over Kentucky as a 7.5-point home underdog. UGA’s leading scorer Terry Roberts returned to the lineup after missing back-to-back games with a concussion.
LSU is winless in six road assignments with a 1-4-1 ATS record.
The Pick: Georgia -4.5
**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**
–I went 3–0 last night for +4.05 units of profit. I had Miami +5.5 at UNC, UM +205 on the money line and Baylor -6.5 vs. West Virginia. The Hurricanes improved to 5-0 ATS as underdogs with an 80-72 win in Chapel Hill. They led by one at halftime and by as many as 12 in the second half, while the Tar Heels fell to 0-9 against Quad-1 opponents.
–Baylor took care of business in a 79-67 win over the Mountaineers, who have lost six of seven Big 12 road games. LJ Cryer drained 8-of-11 shots from 3-point land and scored a game-high 26 points for the Bears, who have won 10 of their last 11 games while compiling an 8-2-1 ATS mark.
–Rutgers (16-9 SU, 16-9 ATS) is a double-digit home favorite vs. Nebraska tonight at The RAC. The Scarlet Knights are 13-2 SU and 12-3 ATS at home this year, while the Cornhuskers are an abysmal 2-9 SU and 1-10 ATS in 11 road contests.
–South Carolina ended an eight-game losing streak Saturday by winning 64-61 at Ole Miss. The Gamecocks have covered the spread in three straight games and four of their last five. They’re home underdogs tonight against Vanderbilt. The Commodores have suddenly won three games in a row, including Saturday’s win at Florida and last week’s upset over Tennessee on a buzzer-beating trey by Tyrin Lawrence. Vandy’s recent surge has been sparked by center Liam Robbins, who has played in the last four games after missing several weeks with a foot injury. Robbins was the catalyst against the Gators, producing 32 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.
–Duke (17-8 SU, 9-16 ATS) is undefeated in 12 home games with a 6-6 spread record. The Blue Devils are 11.5-point home ‘chalk’ tonight vs. Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are winless in six road games with a 2-4 ATS mark. Duke freshman center Kyle Filipowski is ‘questionable’ with an ankle injury. Filipowski averages 14. 8points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocked shots per game.
–BetOnline has opened Texas A&M as a three-point home favorite vs. Arkansas tomorrow. I like the Aggies, who are 12-1 SU and 9-4 ATS in 13 home games. The Razorbacks are 2-5 both SU and ATS in seven road outings.