Rhode Island at Providence

The Providence Friars are really getting bitten by the injury bug this season. Last year's leading scorer and assist man Vincent Council went down with a hamstring injury, so his 15.9 points per game and 7.5 assists per game and floor leadership are missing. Bryce Cotton went down in their last game with a knee injury taking his 22.1 ppg, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists with him. This is a team that now goes just six deep and has lost a lot of firepower, experience, and leadership. Kadeem Batts has picked up some of the slack, but he has been very erratic, either red-hot or ice-cold. This is a dangerous Rhode Island team that has beaten Auburn, lost to Seton Hall by just 5 points and played Ohio State to an 11-point game. The Rams are catching the Friars at the right time, and being the dog in a huge in-state rivalry game will keep them in this one. Take Rhode Island.