Providence Friars vs. Kansas Jayhawks Picks, Predictions, Odds
Friday’s betting action in the Sweet 16 Round features a showdown in the Midwest Region between the Big East’s No. 4 Providence Friars and the Big 12’s No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks. Game time from Chicago’s United Center is set for 7:29 p.m. (ET) on TBS.
Score Prediction
Kansas 81, Providence 69
Best Bet
Kansas -7.5 (-110)
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PROVIDENCE FRIARS vs. KANSAS JAYHAWKS PREDICTIONS
Providence won the Big East regular-season title with a straight-up record of 14-3. After bowing out of the conference tournament in a lopsided loss to Creighton, the Friars returned to form with a nine-point win against South Dakota State followed by a 28-point rout over Richmond. They are 12-1 SU in non-conference play this season.
Kansas followed up its 14-4 SU run to the Big 12 regular season title with a trio of conference tournament wins to claim that title as well. The Jayhawks kept things rolling into the Sweet 16 by beating Texas Southern by 27 points before getting past Creighton by seven points this past
Saturday as 13-point favorites. There current SU winning streak stands at seven games.
The Friars are a very good team but Kansas is a national-title caliber team. I was first impressed with the Jayhawks’ run to the Big 12 regular season title followed by the conference tournament championship. They have not stopped to take a breath in their first two games in this tournament and covering the 7.5 points in this matchup should not be an issue.
PROVIDENCE FRIARS vs. KANSAS JAYHAWKS BETTING ODDS
PROVIDENCE FRIARS vs. KANSAS JAYHAWKS BETTING RESOURCES
- Date: Friday, March 25, 2022
- Matchup: No. 4 vs. No. 1
- Region: Midwest
- Venue: United Center
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- TV-Time: TBS - 7:29 p.m. ET
- Viewable Brackets & Odds
- Team Trends & NCAA Records
- March Madness History
- East Region Breakdown
- Midwest Region Breakdown
- South Region Breakdown
- West Region Breakdown
PROVIDENCE FRIARS BETTING ANALYSIS
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- SU: 27-5
- ATS: 19-13
- O/U: 16-16
My big concern with Providence still goes back to the 85-58 loss to Creighton in the Big East Tournament with so much on the line. The team’s only other two SU losses since early January were against Villanova. Covering against both South Dakota State and Richmond, the Friars are an even 5-5 ATS over their last 10 games.
The total stayed UNDER in their first two tournament games and it has stayed UNDER in four of the team’s last six games. Providence has not crossed the 80-point mark in its last six games. You get the feeling it is going to have to outscore the Jayhawks to win as opposed to slowing them down on defense.
The Friars have averaged 71.8 points per game this season behind Center Nate Watson (13.5 points) and guard Al Durham (13.3 points). You can add guard Jared Bynum to that list with12.6 PPG while shooting 41.9% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range. Providence is shooting 43.7% from the field and 34.3% from three-point range. It is pulling down an average of 37.5 rebounds a game and holding apposing teams to 66.2 PPG on the defensive end of the court.
KANSAS JAYHAWKS BETTING ANALYSIS
Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)
- SU: 30-6
- ATS: 18-17
- O/U: 19-15-2
Kansas failed to cover the closing number in its 79-72 win over Creighton this past Saturday. However, this snapped a streak of five streak ATS wins in a row. The total went OVER 141 points the last time out and it has now gone OVER in three of the team’s last five games. During the Jayhawks’ current SU seven-game winning streak, they have averaged 77.1 PPG.
Overall, Kansas is 30-6 SU with an even 18-18 record ATS. It is 6-4 against the closing number in 10 previous games this season played at a neutral site. For what it is worth, the total has gone OVER in 15 of this team’s last 19 games played on a Friday. I happen to see this game going OVER 141.5 points as well.
The Jayhawks have been one of the top scoring teams in the nation all season long with an average of 78.7 PPG. Guard Ochai Agbaji has led the way with 19.3 points a game. Guard Christian Braun is next on that list with a 14.6-point scoring average.
Kansas is shooting 48.1% from the field and 35.5% from outside the three-point line. It matches up well under the boards with 37.4 rebounds a game. On defense, the Jayhawks are allowing an average of 67.9 PPG which is slightly higher than Friday’s opponent.
INSIDE THE STATS - PROVIDENCE FRIARS
- Record: 27-5
- PS/G: 71.8 (153rd)
- PA/G: 66.2 (86th)
INSIDE THE STATS - KANSAS JAYHAWKS
- Record: 30-6
- PS/G: 78.7 (22nd)
- PA/G: 67.9 (137th)
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
- PROV: Nate Watson - C (13.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
- PROV: Aljami Durham - G (13.3 ppg)
- KU: Ochai Agbaji - G (19.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
- KU: Christian Braun - G (14.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
PROVIDENCE FRIARS vs. KANSAS JAYHAWKS BETTING CONCLUSION
Providence is capable of pulling off the upset as one of the two best teams in the Big East. I simply have more confidence in the Jayhawks’ current playing form right now. Laying 7.5 points in what should be a close matchup on paper comes with higher risk. However, my confidence in Kansas covering that number is running rather high.
MARCH MADNESS PICK RESOURCES
PROVIDENCE FRIARS vs. KANSAS JAYHAWKS BETTING TRENDS
- Kansas has won 24 straight games when playing on a Friday.
- Kansas has scored 75 points or more in 10 of its last 11 NCAA Tournament games.
- Kansas has seen 139 or less total points in seven of its last eight games when playing on a neutral court.
- Providence has lost 1H in 11 straight games when facing a non-AP-ranked school on a neutral court.
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