Big East Conference Championship betting preview and odds: Providence vs. Villanova
Providence Friars vs. Villanova Wildcats (-12, 149.5)
Game to be played at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
No. 3 Villanova is in the Big East Tournament championship game for the fourth straight season and aims to win its third title during that stretch when it faces Providence on Saturday. The second-seeded Wildcats rolled past sixth-seeded Butler on Friday, shortly after the fifth-seeded Friars upset top seed Xavier in overtime.
Providence kicked off Friday's action by rallying from a 17-point, second-half deficit to stun the Musketeers - and all but clinch its NCAA Tournament spot in the process. Of course, the Friars can secure an automatic bid if they pull off another upset - and they already know they can defeat the Wildcats. Providence lost the first matchup against Villanova this season by 20 but bounced back for a 76-71 victory last month behind Kyron Cartwright's 17 points. The Wildcats, meanwhile, saw all five starters score in double figures on Friday en route to an 87-68 rout of Butler and now are in excellent shape to earn a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance.
TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, FOX
BETTING STATS:

BETTING ACTION AND LINE MOVES: Villanova opened as 12.5-point chalk and that number has yet to move. The total hit the betting board at 149.5 and hasn't budged as of Saturday morning.
MATCHUP CHART:

ABOUT PROVIDENCE: The Friars have won three straight games by a total of 11 points, and each of their last seven triumphs have come by five or fewer. Alpha Diallo and Rodney Bullock each registered 17 points on Friday while Cartwright scored 15 despite going 6-for-17 from the field. Nate Watson, who recorded two points in four minutes during Thursday's contest, poured in 14 in 28 minutes against Xavier and will be a concern for Villanova's young front line.
ABOUT VILLANOVA: The Wildcats are led by their two terrific guards - Jalen Brunson, the potential choice for National Player of the Year, and Mikal Bridges, a potential 2018 lottery pick. Brunson has shot well in three straight games following a multi-week slump, while Bridges has drained multiple 3-pointers in eight straight contests - scoring at least 18 points in each of those games. Freshman forward Omari Spellman registered 12 points and 12 boards - matching his second-highest rebound total of the season - in Friday's win and also drained multiple 3-pointers for the sixth time in seven contests.
TRENDS:
* Friars are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Wildcats are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.
* Over is 12-2 in Wildcats last 14 vs. Big East.
* Friars are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
TIP-INS:
* Providence won the Big East Tournament in 1994 and 2014, while Villanova's titles came in 1995, 2015 and 2017.
* Brunson committed more than three turnovers in a game once this season - a seven-turnover performance in the second meeting with Providence.
* The Wildcats have won 10 of their last 11 games in the Big East Tournament.
Providence Friars vs. Villanova Wildcats (-12, 149.5)
Game to be played at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
No. 3 Villanova is in the Big East Tournament championship game for the fourth straight season and aims to win its third title during that stretch when it faces Providence on Saturday. The second-seeded Wildcats rolled past sixth-seeded Butler on Friday, shortly after the fifth-seeded Friars upset top seed Xavier in overtime.
Providence kicked off Friday's action by rallying from a 17-point, second-half deficit to stun the Musketeers - and all but clinch its NCAA Tournament spot in the process. Of course, the Friars can secure an automatic bid if they pull off another upset - and they already know they can defeat the Wildcats. Providence lost the first matchup against Villanova this season by 20 but bounced back for a 76-71 victory last month behind Kyron Cartwright's 17 points. The Wildcats, meanwhile, saw all five starters score in double figures on Friday en route to an 87-68 rout of Butler and now are in excellent shape to earn a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance.
TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, FOX
BETTING STATS:

BETTING ACTION AND LINE MOVES: Villanova opened as 12.5-point chalk and that number has yet to move. The total hit the betting board at 149.5 and hasn't budged as of Saturday morning.
MATCHUP CHART:

ABOUT PROVIDENCE: The Friars have won three straight games by a total of 11 points, and each of their last seven triumphs have come by five or fewer. Alpha Diallo and Rodney Bullock each registered 17 points on Friday while Cartwright scored 15 despite going 6-for-17 from the field. Nate Watson, who recorded two points in four minutes during Thursday's contest, poured in 14 in 28 minutes against Xavier and will be a concern for Villanova's young front line.
ABOUT VILLANOVA: The Wildcats are led by their two terrific guards - Jalen Brunson, the potential choice for National Player of the Year, and Mikal Bridges, a potential 2018 lottery pick. Brunson has shot well in three straight games following a multi-week slump, while Bridges has drained multiple 3-pointers in eight straight contests - scoring at least 18 points in each of those games. Freshman forward Omari Spellman registered 12 points and 12 boards - matching his second-highest rebound total of the season - in Friday's win and also drained multiple 3-pointers for the sixth time in seven contests.
TRENDS:
* Friars are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Wildcats are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.
* Over is 12-2 in Wildcats last 14 vs. Big East.
* Friars are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
TIP-INS:
* Providence won the Big East Tournament in 1994 and 2014, while Villanova's titles came in 1995, 2015 and 2017.
* Brunson committed more than three turnovers in a game once this season - a seven-turnover performance in the second meeting with Providence.
* The Wildcats have won 10 of their last 11 games in the Big East Tournament.
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