The Oklahoma Sooners take on the Providence Friars in Nassau, Bahamas, as part of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Oklahoma is favored by 2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -150. The total is set at 135.5 points.
Here’s my Oklahoma vs Providence predictions and college basketball picks for November 27, 2024.
Oklahoma vs Providence Prediction
My Pick: Oklahoma -2.5
My Oklahoma vs Providence best bet is on the Sooners 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.
Oklahoma vs Providence Odds
| Oklahoma Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -115 | 135.5 -110o / -110u | -150 |
| Providence Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -105 | 135.5 -110o / -110u | +125 |
- Oklahoma vs Providence spread: Oklahoma -2.5
- Oklahoma vs Providence over/under: 135.5 points
- Oklahoma vs Providence moneyline: Oklahoma -150, Providence +125
- Oklahoma vs Providence best bet: Oklahoma -2.5
Spread
I like the Sooners on the spread.
Moneyline
I'm avoiding the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm passing on the total.
My Pick: Oklahoma -2.5
Oklahoma vs Providence College Basketball Betting Preview
Oklahoma Basketball
The Sooners have had the easiest non-conference schedule so far, according to KenPom. They aren't just beating these poor teams — they are crushing them. They won each game by 16+ points and three by 20+.
The rise of forward Jalon Moore as an elite defender into an elite player has been a sight to behold. Moore leads the Sooners with 18.9 points per game while shooting 52% from the field and 41% from 3. He was one of the best defenders in the Big 12 last year, and now he's one of the best players in the SEC.
While Providence is elite on defense, Oklahoma ranks 29th in defensive efficiency, and makes its money in a different way. It pressure more, which leads to a 24.9% turnover rate.
Opponents do shoot over 54% from inside the arc, though, and that mostly stems from the lack of a true shot-swatting threat. The duo of Moore and Sam Godwin — who ranks 11th in offensive rebounding rate and sixth in defensive rebounding rate — is terrific, but neither are intimidating shot swatters.
The Sooners' path to covering here centers around their guards. You are probably thinking, wait, didn't you just say how awesome their forwards are? Yes, but the guards have a lot to prove.
Freshman guard Jeremiah Fears is averaging 15.5 points and 4.0 assists per game, but he's running the show as a freshman. He has yet to play a tough team, so this test will be one to watch.
The trio of veteran transfers — Kobe Elvis, Duke Miles and Brycen Goodine — provides some scoring pop. Elvis and Miles are both creators, while Goodine is a knockdown shooter with length.
Providence Basketball
The Friars will likely get their best player — Bryce Hopkins — back for the first time since suffering a torn ACL in January.
While there's no word on how big Hopkins' role will be, him returning would be huge. He's the only player on the Friars' roster who can score 25+ points in a game, something he did twice in 14 games last season.
Providence needs a jolt of energy offensively. It ranks 145th in KenPom's offensive efficiency metric, mainly due to a bloated 20% turnover rate and a poor 31% 3-point percentage.
The problem with the Friars' shooting is they attempt 3s 54% of the time, but they don't have enough shooters. Playing through the paint is the DNA of Providence, and the addition of Hopkins should lead to a more inside-out attack.
Jayden Pierre and Bensley Joseph are the Friars' best shooters, connecting on 35% or better from 3.
As Wesley Cardet Jr. struggles from 3, perhaps Jabri Abdur-Rahim could seize more minutes.
Kim English has made his preferred style of play abundantly clear. He wants a defensive-first team, as evidenced by the Friars' top-25-ranked defenses over the past two seasons.
Providence defends shots at an elite level, posting the best effective field goal percentage defense in the country.
Plus, the Friars rank top-10 in 2-point and 3-point field goal defense.
I'm not sure how much playing the third-easiest non-conference schedule helps, but English's defensive chops make me believe the opponent isn't a huge factor.
Oklahoma vs Providence Betting Analysis
I like the Sooners here. Even assuming Hopkins is back, I don't trust Providence's shooting enough.
Plus, the turnover issues from the Friars could play a role here, as the Sooners will look to force the guards into bad decisions.
