The BYU Cougars take on the Providence Friars in Providence, RI. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
BYU is favored by 6 points on the spread with a moneyline of -260. The total is set at 142 points.
Here’s my BYU vs. Providence predictions and college basketball picks for December 3, 2024.
BYU vs Providence Prediction
My Pick: Providence +6.5
My BYU vs Providence best bet is on the Friars spread, with the best odds currently available at BetMGM. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
BYU vs Providence Odds, Spread, Pick
| BYU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6 -110 | 142 -110 / -110 | -260 |
| Providence Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6 -110 | 142 -110 / -110 | +210 |
- BYU vs Providence spread: BYU -6
- BYU vs Providence over/under: 142 points
- BYU vs Providence moneyline: BYU -260, Providence +210
- BYU vs Providence best bet: Providence +6 (Play to +4.5)
My BYU vs Providence College Basketball Betting Preview
It’s been an ugly and disappointing season thus far in Providence, as the Friars finished last in the Battle 4 Atlantis and were blown off the floor by Davidson and Indiana in their final two games.
The results during Feast Week don’t overshadow the fact that the Friars nearly lost to Central Connecticut State on their home floor and trailed by eight against Hampton at halftime.
Providence has very little shooting and shot creation offensively, and their interior play has been questionable, to say the least.
Kim English desperately needs his best player — Bryce Hopkins — to make his season debut after tearing his ACL last season. Hopkins was actually expected to play in the Battle 4 Atlantis, but English has been extremely cautious with the ex-Kentucky forward.
Now Providence returns home to face BYU, a team that is essentially the opposite of the Friars. The Cougars want to score and play fast under new head coach Kevin Young. Meanwhile, the Friars are focused on defense and operate at one of the slowest tempos in the country.
That means pace will be the biggest factor in this game; whoever controls it will likely win.
Egor Demin has been a special player running the show for the Cougars, as he’s averaging 14.3 points, 6.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game while being must-see television.
But this is also his first-ever collegiate road game, and it comes in a building that has been one of the more difficult places to play over the last couple of seasons.
BYU is likely to burn the Friars on the glass — since they are 18th in the country in rebounding — but the Friars may have found a better, more versatile lineup with Jabri Abdur-Rahim playing more minutes at the four.
I don’t know if the Friars will necessarily win this game; however, this is their final opportunity in the non-conference to record a marquee victory. With Hopkins’ potential return, I’m going to back the Friars on the spread at home.
So, let’s hold our nose and hope that Providence can keep the pace at a minimum and ride the wave of its home crowd.
