The Dayton Flyers and Providence Friars meet up tonight in the NCAA?Tournament Second Round. The game is scheduled for a 10:30 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on truTV. Currently the NCAA?Tournament Betting Odds for the game have Providence listed as a small favorite to pick up the win and advance.

Dayton once again finds itself in the NCAA?Tournament, last year flying all the way to the Elite Eight before losing to Florida. Tonight the Flyers look to keep their ride going, taking on a Providence team that lost a close one to North?Carolina in the first game last season.

The Friars can score, but they’ve also failed to reach 65 points in two of their last three games overall, losses to Butler and Villanova. LaDontae Henton (19.7) and Kris Dunn (15.8) both average in double digits and are the top two options for the Friars, who rank 34th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency.

Defensively, Providence is pretty solid as well, ranking 44th nationally in efficiency. The Friars know that Dayton is going to play a slower-style of basketball in this one, so rebounding will be imperative.

Dayton is not a good rebounding team, ranking just 300th on the glass this season. The Friars can beat them up on the window and use it to their advantage, which could allow them to get going offensively and move Dayton around the floor.

The Flyers to have the advantage of just playing and getting ready to play in this one, but the travel also has a part. Dayton turns around less than 48 hours after playing its way into the tournament looking to keep the season alive, but it’s not going to be easy against Providence.

The Friars are the better team, have the better offensive players and will win this game in the second half, consistently knocking down shots and getting to the rim.

Free Pick: Providence 74, Dayton 62