The Providence Friars take on the UConn Huskies in Storrs, CT. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
UConn is favored by 16.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -2200. The total is set at 156.5 points.
Here’s my Providence vs. UConn predictions and college basketball picks for January 27, 2026.
Providence vs UConn Prediction
My Pick: UConn 1H ATS
My Providence vs UConn best bet is on the Huskies to cover the first-half spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Providence vs. UConn Odds
| Providence Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+16.5 -110 | 156.5 -110 / -110 | +1100 |
| UConn Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-16.5 -110 | 156.5 -110 / -110 | -2200 |
- Providence vs UConn spread: UConn -16.5
- Providence vs UConn over/under: 156.5 points
- Providence vs UConn moneyline: Providence +1100, UConn -2200
Providence vs UConn College Basketball Betting Preview
Providence Basketball
It’s a tough season to be a Friar fanatic like myself, as Kim English’s bunch has posted a 9-11 overall record, having also lost seven of its first nine contests in conference play.
In just his third season at the helm, English is officially on the hot seat.
In a matchup that carried major implications both on and off the floor, Providence blew a 21-point lead at home inside Amica Mutual Pavilion against the Ed Cooley-led Hoyas this past Saturday.
Cooley was the man in Friartown for over a decade, having led Providence to seven NCAA Tournament appearances. In a decision that shocked the Friar faithful, Cooley left his “dream job” at Providence to cross over to Big East rival Georgetown.
The English hire marked a new era for Providence and a fresh start for a program filled with optimism. Instead, the Friars are well on their way to missing their third consecutive NCAA Tournament under English.
Providence’s star freshman duo — Stefan Vaaks and 6-foot-6 forward Jamier Jones — has led the charge for a team that's excelled offensively, posting just shy of 89 points per game.
On the other end of the floor, however, the Friars’ defense has been horrific, with a defensive efficiency rating that ranks outside the top 150 nationally, according to KenPom.
This roster still has plenty of top-to-bottom potential, featuring some very impressive young talent. But if English can’t turn things around and stabilize the program by the end of his third season, he may be looking for a new job in 2027.
UConn Basketball
After UConn won two of the last three national titles, Dan Hurley has already cemented a legacy that will live on forever.
The Huskies had an extremely difficult draw in the NCAA Tournament this past season, having to face the eventual national champion Florida Gators in the second round, in a game they led with just four minutes to play.
In what could be described as a solid season by most standards, Hurley has instead built a “championship or bust” culture in his locker room, demanding greatness from every single player.
After a close loss to the now No. 1-ranked team in the country, Arizona Wildcats, the Huskies have gone on to win 15 consecutive games, with victories over the likes of BYU, Florida and Kansas.
Hurley’s bunch returned a number of key contributors from last season’s team, including Tarris Reed Jr., Alex Karaban and Solo Ball.
Ball leads a Huskies offense loaded with experience, averaging just shy of 15 points per game in his third season. Alongside Ball in UConn’s backcourt is former Georgia Bulldog Silas Demary Jr., who's also averaging double figures in scoring through the Huskies’ first 20 games.
While UConn has posted an outstanding 19-1 record to open the 2026 season, Hurley’s offense has actually taken a slight step back, ranking outside the top 40 nationally in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
UConn is still averaging an impressive 79 points per game, but it’s on the other end of the floor where Hurley’s group truly separates itself. The Huskies rank second in the nation in defensive efficiency, per KenPom, trailing only Michigan State.
Both Reed and Karaban are elite two-way players, each averaging 14 points per game while also serving as two of the best rim protectors in college basketball.
UConn’s defense is allowing just 63 points per game through its first 20 contests, ranking seventh nationally.
Providence vs. UConn Betting Analysis
The Friars are an absolute disaster right now and are coming off their worst loss of the season.
While most teams ranked inside the top 10 still have to navigate a gauntlet of difficult conference opponents down the stretch, UConn has been a shooting star in an overall down year for the Big East.
I do think the Huskies are due for some regression at some point, but I just can’t see it coming against a demoralized Providence team that plays far worse on the road than it does on its home floor.
I’ll be looking for the Huskies to come out firing in this game, and I expect Providence's road woes to continue.
I could definitely see UConn jumping out to a big early lead, with the Friars making a modest push to close the gap in the second half.
My Pick: UConn 1H ATS
