Richmond vs. Providence Odds, Spread, Pick & Predictions for 2022 NCAA Tournament
The Richmond Spiders scored the first major upset of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, taking down No. 5 seed Iowa in impressive fashion. Their next opponent, the Providence Friars, fended off a pesky effort from one of the most popular upset picks in brackets and betting circles.
Now, the Spiders and Friars will square off with a trip to the Sweet Sixteen on the line. Can Richmond keep their incredible momentum rolling, or will Ed Cooley and the Friars defy the haters yet again?
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Richmond Spiders vs. Providence Friars Game Info
- Date: Saturday, March 19, 2022
- Start time: 6:10 p.m. ET
- Location: Keybank Center, Buffalo, N.Y.
- Coverage: TNT
Richmond vs. Providence Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
- Moneyline: Richmond +125, Providence -145
- Point spread: Richmond +3 (-115), Providence -3 (-105)
- Total: 134
Betting Trends
- Providence is 17-10 overall ATS
- Richmond is 13-17-1 overall ATS
- Providence is 9-8 ATS as a favorite
- Richmond is 3-5 ATS as an underdog
- Richmond has covered four straight games, all as an underdog
- The under is 18-12-1 in Richmond games
- The under is 13-14 in Providence games
Richmond Spiders Betting Preview
The Spiders won four games in four days to punch their ticket as the Atlantic 10 Conference automatic qualifier. And while it was a tremendous story, it felt like they would run out of gas against the Big Ten Tournament champion Iowa Hawkeyes.
It turns out it was the Hawkeyes who were out of gas. The Spiders held Iowa to 6-of-29 from 3-point land and knocked off Iowa by four.
Richmond is led by a trio of double-figure scorers: Tyler Burton, Grant Golden and Jacob Gilyard. Burton and Gilyard played all 40 minutes Thursday, so legs could be a concern here.
The Spiders definitely wouldn’t have made the dance if not for the automatic bid. The Spiders rank 74th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 109th in defensive efficiency. Their biggest strengths lie inside, where they rank 87th in 2-point shooting. Richmond also does an excellent job of protecting the rock.
It’s fair to think that Richmond wouldn’t be here if Iowa was hitting its shots Thursday afternoon.
Providence Friars Betting Preview
The narrative on the Friars is they’re lucky. They’re 12-2 in close games and it seems every game they’re involved in comes down to the wire. All of that is true, but Providence is also good.
Providence is an experienced team with eight seniors and only one underclassman on the roster. Three Friars average double digits in scoring, with two more averaging just shy of 10 points per game. The main catalyst is big man Nate Watson along with talented guards Al Durham, Jared Bynum and A.J. Reeves.
Despite a 26-5 record, the analytics don’t care much for Providence. They rank 34th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 76th in defensive efficiency. However, the Friars play slow and can get cold from the field, as they rank 171st in effective field goal percentage.
However, Providence is stingy defensively, ranking 36th in effective field goal percentage. They also rank within the top 55 in defending 2-point and 3-point shots. Providence’s only flaw defensively is they don’t turn teams over, which isn’t a big deal against the responsible Spiders.
Richmond Spiders vs. Providence Friars Betting Pick
This is an awfully intriguing matchup. Gilyard and Burton against Providence’s trio of guards will be fascinating to watch. So will the showdown in the paint between Golden and Watson. Unlike South Dakota State, the Spiders aren’t very proficient offensively, and you need to get in a shootout to beat Providence.
The haters will hate this, but Providence’s “luck,†isn’t running out in this matchup.
The Pick: Providence -3, lean under 134
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