The Providence Friars take on the Marquette Golden Eagles in Milwaukee, WI. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.
Marquette is favored by 1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -125. The total is set at 165.5 points.
Here’s my Providence vs. Marquette prediction and college basketball picks for January 19, 2026.
Providence vs Marquette Prediction
My Pick: Providence ML +105
My Providence vs Marquette best bet is on the Friars to win outright. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Providence vs. Marquette Odds
| Providence Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 165.5 -110 / -110 | +105 |
| Marquette Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 165.5 -110 / -110 | -125 |
- Providence vs Marquette spread: Marquette -1.5
- Providence vs Marquette over/under: 165.5 points
- Providence vs Marquette moneyline: Providence +105, Marquette -125
Providence vs Marquette College Basketball Betting Preview
Providence Basketball
The Friars enter Monday’s contest with Marquette coming off a huge win at the former “Dunk," now Amica Mutual Pavilion.
In an offensive shootout, Providence prevailed by a thin five-point margin following a spectacular 24 points from freshman sensation Stefan Vaaks. The 6-foot-7 Estonia-born guard has scored over 20 points in three consecutive games, definitively proving to scouts that he's a legit NBA prospect.
It's been a very up-and-down season for Friar head coach Kim English. English’s tenure at Providence has been shaky at best, missing the NCAA Tournament in both of his first two seasons.
This is a trend that certainly looks likely to be repeated this season, as the Friars enter the heart of their Big East schedule with a .500 record overall.
Over the last decade-plus, the Friars' identity in the previous Ed Cooley-era had been best characterized by its ability to slow the game down, using their physicality and stout defensive effort to make every single matchup a dog fight.
This style of play couldn't be further from the case thus far in English's tenure, but especially this season.
Providence’s star freshman duo — Vaaks and Jamier Jones — have 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, the Friars' defense has been horrific, with a defensive efficiency rating that ranks outside the top 150 in the nation, according to KenPom.
While I still hold hope for some defensive improvement from the Friars, I'm very worried about a team that has dropped five of its first seven conference games. Providence is flush with sizable young potential on its roster, so there certainly could be some light at the end of the tunnel.
Marquette Basketball
Over the course of the season, Marquette has been even worse than the Friars, winning just one of its first eight Big East contests.
For a Golden Eagles squad that's been very impressive in recent years — making the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four seasons — it certainly feels like a complete rebuild for a program that's excelled in the Shaka Smart era.
For a Marquette team that's lost nine of its last 10 games, it's pretty tough to remain optimistic about the Golden Eagles for the remainder of their Big East schedule.
Smart’s bunch has been unable to capitalize on either end of the floor, ranking outside the top 100 in the country in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
Marquette’s backcourt has actually been pretty good, with star guards Nigel James Jr. and Chase Ross both posting double-digit scoring lines over the course of the season. Ross’ 15 points per game — along with four rebounds — have made him the most efficient player in a dreadful offense.
Providence vs. Marquette Betting Analysis
Despite losing half of its first 18 contests, I still hold some hope for Providence if it can improve on the defensive end of the floor.
This “track meet” pace of play is clearly not working out for English’s Friars, and the lack of defensive prowess will prove fatal as they enter the heart of a conference schedule loaded with several difficult opponents.
While the Friars are far worse on the road than at the comfort of its own Amica Pavilion, there's nothing you can use to support betting on the Golden Eagles right now.
Marquette is dreadful on both ends of the floor and clearly the worst team in the Big East.
It's definitely Providence or pass for me on Monday.
My Pick: Providence ML +105
