BYU Cougars vs Providence Friars NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/3/24
Looking to win big? The Cougars and Friars face off at 8:30 ET on FS1. The Friars are hosting the game at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, RI. BYU comes into this non-conference matchup as the -5.5 point favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 142.5 points.
BYU COUGARS VS PROVIDENCE FRIARS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Providence Friars +5.5
This game will be played at Amica Mutual Pavilion at 8:30 ET on Tuesday, December 3rd.
WHY BET THE PROVIDENCE FRIARS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 80-66 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 146 points.
Can the Cougars Grab a Win in Providence?
BYU improved to 5-3 on the season with a 72-61 win over NC State on Friday, November 29th. The Cougars were favored by 5.5 points and covered the spread with the victory.
BYU led 38-27 at halftime and matched NC State’s 34 points in the 2nd half. The game’s total points of 133 fell short of the 153.5 O/U line.
BYU put up 72 points in their last game, shooting 42.4% from the field and hitting 38.5% from beyond the arc, connecting on 10 of 26 three-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 50.8%, and they were solid from the free-throw line, making 12 of 16 attempts for a 75% rate.
Michael O’Connell and Jayden Taylor each scored 16 points, with Taylor hitting 4 of 7 from three-point range. Richie Saunders was perfect from deep, going 3 for 3, and finished with 13 points. The Cougars also grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and dished out 17 assists in the win.
BYU’s defense held their opponent to 61 points, allowing them to shoot 42% from the field on 25 of 59 attempts. Inside the arc, the Cougars gave up 15 two-point field goals on 33 attempts, a 45% shooting rate.
From three-point range, BYU’s defense conceded 10 made threes on 26 attempts, with their opponent shooting 38%. The Cougars also sent them to the free-throw line 16 times, where they converted 12 free throws, shooting 75%. BYU allowed 15 offensive rebounds in the game.
Can the Friars Grab a Win at Home?
Providence Friars Recent Game/Games
The Friars fell to 5-3 on the season after an 89-73 home loss to Indiana on Friday. Providence entered the game as +4.5 underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points of 162 exceeded the O/U line of 138.
Providence trailed 44-34 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap in the 2nd half, scoring 39 points while allowing 45.
In their latest game, the Friars put up 73 points, shooting 39.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 46.9%. They hit 33.3% from beyond the arc, connecting on 10 of 30 attempts, and went 15 for 34 on two-point shots, shooting 44.1% inside the arc. Their free-throw shooting was a concern, as they hit just 61.9% from the line, making 13 of 21 attempts.
Offensively, the Friars grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and dished out 15 assists. Mackenzie Mgbako led the way with 25 points, shooting 64.3% overall and 57.1% from three-point range. Jayden Pierre added 22 points, hitting 5 of 10 from deep, while Malik Reneau was nearly perfect from the field, shooting 88.9% and finishing with 21 points in just 22 minutes.
Providence gave up 89 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 39% from the field. The Friars’ defense saw 64 shots, with 25 finding the mark.
From three-point range, Providence allowed 10 threes on 30 attempts, a 33% shooting rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 21 times, where they hit 13 free throws.