Posted at 4:00 PM EST odds are subject to change.

Pinnacle -7½ -110 BET365  -7½ -110 SportsInteraction -7½ -110 888Sport -7½ -110

Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, CT

Streaming: FS1

UConn -7½ over Providence

6:30 PM EST. Having a national ranking is nice, but it’s also a curse if you are one of those teams that built your resume by bellying up to the cupcake buffet. The Friars did just that, playing a weak non-conference schedule that includes notable wins over Northeastern, Stonehill, and Merrimack. On opening night, Providence almost got knocked off by Rider, but held off the Broncos, 66-65. In its two games against non-conference Power Six schools, Miami and TCU, the Friars got smashed by double digits.

Providence is the perfect foe for UConn tonight because the Friars have seen their stock rise, climbing in the top-25 on the back of a 2-0 week that saw them beat then #18 Creighton and Big East royalty Villanova. The Wildcats might be down this season, but don’t think that resounding 85-72 victory on Saturday does not resonate with the market and the media. By contrast, the Huskies are ranked lower than the Frians, but they are far superior. When looking at the analytics, UConn is a top six team, while Providence is outside the top-25 at 29th.

It would be very easy to switch gears and “zig-zag” after we backed UConn in its failure to cover over Seton Hall on Saturday, but that would not be the prudent play. While the Huskies failed to cover the 11-point spread, it’s not like they didn’t have their chances with multiple double-digit leads. Regardless, that failure to cash in a high-profile game from the weekend slate serves us well here, as we are now able to “stick with it” and back the undervalued Huskies, spotting a deflated price on their home court against this overrated and overvalued invader.

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