Providence vs UConn Prediction 1/27/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Connecticut Huskies and the Providence Friars will meet on Tuesday night in a Big East matchup at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut.

Providence Friars Betting Preview

The Providence Friars enter Tuesday’s contest with a 9–11 win-loss record, including a 2–7 mark in conference play and a 1-4 record on the road. The Friars have compiled wins over Creighton, St. Johns, Brown, Rhode Island and the Penn State Nittany Lions, while losing recent games to Georgetown, Marquette, Villanova and Xavier.

These two teams met earlier this season. Who prevailed? In the Connecticut Huskies thrilling overtime victory over the Providence Friars earlier this month, Providence forward Jamier Jones tallied 18 points (6 of 9 shooting from the field: 3 of 4 shooting from three-point range), 3 rebounds and 2 assists showcasing his ability to lead the Friars frontcourt.

The Providence Friars are averaging 89.2 points on 47.7 percent shooting from the field and 35.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc per game. Defensively, the Friars are allowing opponents an abysmal 86.1 points per contest which ranks 354th in the country.      

Senior guard Jason Edwards leads the Providence Friars averaging 17.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Senior guard Jaylin Sellers 16 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.7 steals per game.

Connecticut Huskies Betting Preview

The Connecticut Huskies enter Tuesday’s contest with a 19–1 win‑loss record, including a rather impressive 9–0 mark in conference play and a 10-1 record at home. The Huskies have compiled wins over New Haven, UMass‑Lowell, Columbia, BYU, Bryant, Illinois, Kansas, East Texas A&M, and Florida, while dropping a close game to Arizona. In the Connecticut Huskies 61-56 win over the Kansas Jayhawks last month, Connecticut guard Braylon Mullins amassed 17 points on 6 of 12 shooting from the field and 3 of 9 from three-point range.

The Connecticut Huskies average 78.3 points on 48.3 percent shooting from the field (33rd in nation) and 34.8 percent shooting from the three-point line per game. The Huskies are allowing opponents 63.5 points per contest which ranks sixth in the nation.

Junior guard Solo Ball leads the Connecticut Huskies backcourt averaging 14.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.7 steals per game. Junior guard Silas Demary Jr. adds 10.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.2 and 1.7 assists per contest. Senior center Tarris Reed Jr. provides a strong interior presence averaging 14.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.1 steals and 2 blocks per game.

Why the Providence Friars will win

•             Competitive first meeting. Providence led UConn by 11 points with under three minutes left in the two teams last meeting earlier this month.

•             Guard play. Ryan Mela and Jamier Jones combined for 37 points in the first matchup.

•             Enhanced motivation. Providence has dropped five of the team’s last six games played this season.

Why the Connecticut Huskies will win

•             Home court edge. The Connecticut Huskies are 10-1 at home in 2025.

•             Balanced roster. Ball, Demary Jr. and Reed Jr. provide scoring, playmaking and a strong interior presence.

•             Defensive edge. The Huskies are allowing opponents 63.5 points per game which ranks 6th in the nation.

Providence Friars vs. Connecticut Huskies Prediction

This matchup features Connecticut’s elite efficiency, depth and late‑game execution against a Providence team that has struggled defensively and remains without its leading scorer. Providence’s competitiveness in the first meeting should give the team confidence, but the Huskies home court advantage, superior overall team balance and current 15 game winning streak present a difficult matchup for a Friars team that has not been able to close games consistently all season. With that said, I like the Friars to keep this game within the number (16.5). I am backing the Providence Friars plus the 16.5 points.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Providence +16.5