The No. 13 seed South Dakota State Jackrabbits (30-4) and No. 4 seed Providence Friars (25-5) meet Thursday for a Midwest Region first-round game of the NCAA Tournament. Tip-off from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., is scheduled for 12:40 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the South Dakota State vs. Providence odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Jackrabbits have rattled off 21 consecutive victories since a 75-63 setback at Missouri State Dec. 15. The other losses for SDSU came against Idaho on the road, Washington on a neutral floor and Alabama on the road. That’s it.
Providence won the regular-season Big East title. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the Friars have lost three times in their last seven games, going 2-5 ATS during the dismal stretch. Providence picked a bad time for its worst stretch of basketball this season.
See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
South Dakota State vs. Providence odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:31 a.m. ET.
- Money line: South Dakota State +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Providence -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): South Dakota State +2.5 (-120) | Providence -2.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 147.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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South Dakota State vs. Providence odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Providence 78, South Dakota State 67
Money line
The books are being a little disrespectful to the Big East regular-season champ PROVIDENCE (-140). You don’t win the conference title without being a tremendous team, especially in that league.
The Friars did themselves no favors down the stretch with three losses in the past seven games, but who did South Dakota State actually beat? The Jackrabbits have 30 wins, but their best win might be a 77-74 neutral-site win over Washington State Dec. 11. The Cougars weren’t an NCAA Tournament team, and SDSU has just one win over a team in the Field of 64, topping Montana State Nov. 17.
I love a big upset this time of year. Who doesn’t? It’s not happening here.
Against the spread
There is very little reason to bet the money line when you can play PROVIDENCE -2.5 (-105) for a slightly cheaper price. Unless you are absolutely adamant this will be a two-point game, save yourself a little bit of bread.
Over/Under
The UNDER 147.5 (-108) is the play here but go lightly on the total.
The Under has cashed in five of the past seven for South Dakota State as an underdog while going 4-0 in the past four NCAA Tournament games for Providence as a favorite. The Under is also 4-1 in the past five for the Friars as a favorite on a neutral floor.
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