The Rhode Island Rams and the Providence Friars meet in college basketball action from the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Saturday night. Who will come out on top in this installment of the Ocean State Rivalry? Let’s take a look and give out a Rhode Island vs. Providence Prediction.

Rhode Island Team Preview

The Rhode Island Rams come into this one looking to build on back-to-back wins after a 76-72 win over Yale last time out. Zek Montgomery leads the Rams in scoring with 15.6 PPG along with 5.7 RPG while Jaden House has 14.3 PPG with 3.3 RPG and Luis Kortright has 10 PPG with 4.6 RPG and a team-high 2.7 APG to lead the Rams in the assist department while rounding out the trio of double-digit scorers for Rhode Island so far this season. David Fuchs also has a team-high 6.9 RPG to lead the Rams on the glass up to this point in the year. As a team, Rhode Island is averaging 76.3 PPG on 49.3% shooting from the field, 35% from three, and 60.6% from the foul line this season. The Rams have a 5-2 record, just like their A-10 rivals La Salle, Dayton, Duquesne, and Saint Joseph’s.

Providence Team Preview

The Providence Friars come into this one looking to build on their three-game win streak after an 86-52 win over Wagner last time out. Bryce Hopkins leads the Friars in scoring and rebounding with 15.7 PPG and 8.7 RPG while Devin Carter has 15 PPG with 8.3 RPG and a team-high 3.7 APG as well on the year. Josh Oduro has 14.6 PPG with 6.3 RPG and Jayden Pierre has 10.3 PPG with 3 APG to cap off the scoring in double figures for Providence up to this point in the year. As a team, Providence is averaging 76.3 PPG on 46.7% shooting from the field, 32.3% from three, and 68.5% from the foul line this season. The Friars sit at a 6-1 record in the Big East, the same record as Marquette and Creighton.

Rhode Island vs. Providence Prediction

I’m backing Providence here. I feel like the Friars are simply the better team playing better on both sides of the basketball, and while this is a big number in an in-state rivalry game, I think what we saw from Providence against Wagner was telling and that is that this Friars team is legit all over the floor and the one area where Rhode Island lives to put points on the board, 2-point range, is the area that Providence excels at defending (3rd nationally in 2-point defense). All in all, I think the Rams are just overmatched here so give me Providence.