On Thursday night, the Providence Friars meet the USC Trojans in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Friars (23-10) hold the #9 seed in the East region, while the Trojans (21-12) hole the #8 seed. This game features a terrific matchup at point guard, as USC features leading scorer Jordan McLaughlin (13.4 ppg), while Providence has Kris Dunn, a potential first round pick in the NBA. Don’t forget to check out for more betting odds for March Madness by clicking here.
Providence vs USC March Madness Odds Report and TV Info
What: Providence Friars (25-9) at USC Trojans (26-8)
When: Thursday, March 17, 2016
Start Time: 9:50 PM ET
Where: Raleigh, North Carolina
Stadium: PNC Arena
Spread: Providence -1
Moneyline: -138
Game Total: 149.5
Watch: TBS
Stream: TBS SportsListen: Providence at USC
Why Should You Bet on the Friars?
Providence fell in the Big East tournament at the hands of the Villanova Wildcats, who have spent time as the #1 ranked team in the nation this season. Ben Bentil and Kris Dunn are the two top scorers on this team, and Bentil must dominate inside as he has done for most of the season. He leads the Big East in scoring this season (21.2 ppg). For Providence to win, this needs to be a game played in the halfcourt offense running through the middle. Given the problems that the Trojans have had in the halfcourt on defense, this could be a fairly easy win.
Why Should You Put Your Money on USC?
The Trojans only made it to the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament, falling to Utah. McLaughlin tried his hardest to keep his team in the game, dropping 24 points on the Utes while Julian Jacobs added 16, but they could not slow Utah down in the 80-72 loss. The Trojans are a track-meet offensive team, averaging 72 possessions per 40 minutes. If they want to beat Providence, they’ll have to keep a fast-paced attack and score in transition.
Expert Betting Pick and Final Score Prediction
I like Providence to break down the USC defense and prevail, 74-70.
