Marquette Golden Eagles vs Providence Friars NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/31/24

Betting on today’s Golden Eagles and Friars game? Catch the action at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, RI, as the Friars hosts this showdown at 6:00 ET on FS1. Marquette is favored by -5.5 in this Big East conference contest against Providence. The game’s over/under currently sits at 142.5 points.

MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES VS PROVIDENCE FRIARS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Providence Friars +5.5

This game will be played at Amica Mutual Pavilion at 6:00 ET on Tuesday, December 31st.

WHY BET THE PROVIDENCE FRIARS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Friars.
• Not only will Providence pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +5.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 142.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 145 points.

Do the Golden Eagles Have a Shot at a Road Win?

Marquette Golden Eagles Recent Game/Games

Marquette improved to 11-2 on the season with a 72-70 road win over Xavier on Saturday. The Golden Eagles entered the game as 4-point favorites but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 142, falling short of the 152.5-point O/U line.

Marquette led 27-22 at halftime but allowed 48 points in the second half while scoring 45 of their own to secure the win.

Marquette’s offense put up 72 points in their last game, shooting 49.2% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 54.2%. They hit 55% of their two-point attempts and 36.8% from beyond the arc, connecting on 7 of 19 three-point shots. At the free-throw line, they made 7 of 11 attempts, shooting 63.6%.

Kam Jones led the way with 20 points and 8 assists, despite missing all 3 of his three-point attempts and shooting 40% overall. David Joplin added 19 points, shooting 53.3% from the field, while Marcus Foster contributed 16 points, hitting 3 of 7 from deep. Jerome Hunter was efficient, making 6 of 8 shots for 15 points, and Dayvion McKnight also shot over 70%, finishing with 14 points and 6 assists.

Marquette’s defense gave up 70 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 46% from the field. They allowed 54% shooting from two-point range, as the other team went 18/33 on those attempts.

From beyond the arc, Marquette’s defense held the opponent to 6/19 shooting, or 31%. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 20 times, where they hit 16 free throws, shooting 80%.

Does Providence Stand a Chance at Home?

Providence Friars Recent Game/Games

Providence fell to 7-6 on the season after a 72-70 home loss to St. John’s on Friday, December 20th. The Friars were +5.5 point underdogs but covered the spread. The total points for the game were 142, just under the O/U line of 142.5.

Providence led 42-29 at halftime but struggled in the 2nd half, scoring only 28 points while allowing 43.

Providence put up 70 points in their last game, shooting 48.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 53.8%. They hit 54.5% of their two-point attempts and connected on 36.8% from beyond the arc, going 7-for-19 from three-point range. The Friars also shot 76.5% from the free-throw line, making 13 of 17 attempts.

Offensively, Providence recorded just 6 assists, with Bensley Joseph and Deivon Smith each contributing 4. Zuby Ejiofor led the team with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Joseph and Smith both added 17 points. RJ Luis Jr. and Jayden Pierre each chipped in 16 points, though Pierre struggled from three, hitting just 2 of 7 attempts.

Providence’s defense gave up 72 points in their last game, with their opponents shooting 48% from the field. Inside the arc, they allowed 18 two-point baskets on 33 attempts, a 54% shooting rate.

From three-point range, Providence’s defense conceded 7 threes on 19 attempts, with their opponents shooting 36%. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 17 times, where they made 13, shooting 76%.