Villanova Looks to Bounce Back

Villanova is looking to bounce back here after they really struggled in the last game. Villanova scored only 62 points against Providence while the defense gave up 75 points and that was enough for the 13 points. At halftime, they were down 36-24 and in the second half, it didn’t get any better as they ended up losing. Villanova shot 43.4 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Villanova comes into this game with a 15-10 record, and they have gone 13-12 against the spread. Away from home this season they have gone 2-5 against the spread. Villanova is averaging 74.8 points while their defense is giving up 68 points per game. The offense is ranked 162nd in the league while the defense is ranked 68th. Eric Dixon has been the top player for Villanova this season, averaging 23.2 points while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from behind the three-point line. 

UConn Continues to Shock

UConn continues to shock at times, and it always comes at the worst time. UConn faced off against Seton Hall in the last game and they blew it late during regulation and they blew it again in overtime, which led to the 69-68 defeat. UConn shot only 37.3 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from behind the three-point line. Alex Karaban put up 20 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Two games ago against Creighton, they played better and they were able to secure the 70-66 victory. 

UConn currently sits with a 17-7 record overall and they have gone 11-13 against the spread. At home this season they have gone 10-2 straight up. The one thing they can’t do is overlook this game, or they will be in trouble. UConn is averaging 78.3 points while their defense is giving up 68.5 points per game. The offense is ranked 80th in the league while the defense is ranked 73rd in the league. Solo Ball is averaging 14.8 points while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Why UConn Will Beat Villanova

• Connecticut has won each of its last 16 night games at XL Center.
• Villanova has lost four of its last five road games against the Big East Conference.

UConn vs Villanova Prediction

This is a big-time bounce-back spot for UConn. It’s not so much that I trust the Huskies; I just really don’t trust Villanova, and the Wildcats are going to have some major issues here. Villanova is averaging 74.8 points on the season, but the Wildcats are going to have some major issues getting that type of offense going here. UConn is averaging 78.3 points, and they are going to end up cruising here. This game is going to be a blowout victory for UConn. Back UConn against the spread. 

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Villanova Recap

The Villanova Wildcats come into this game looking to add on to their 73-71 win over St. John’s last time out to improve to 15-10 on the year. After this game, Villanova will head on the road for a game against UConn.

Wildcats Win Three In A Row

Eric Dixon leads Villanova in scoring with 23.5 PPG along with 5.1 RPG while Wooga Poplar has 14.7 PPG with 6.4 RPG to share the team lead in rebounding and Jordan Longino has added 11.6 PPG with 2.5 RPG and 2.3 APG to cap off the trio of double-digit scorers for Villanova up to this point in the year. Jhamir Brickus also has 9.7 PPG with a team-high 5.5 APG to lead the Wildcats in the assist department while Tyler Perkins has 6.9 PPG with 3.8 RPG and Enoch Boakye has 4 PPG with 6.4 RPG of his own to share the team lead on the glass with the aforementioned Poplar. As a team, Villanova is averaging 75.4 PPG on 47.2% shooting from the field, 40.2% from three and 80.8% from the foul line this season.

Why the Villanova Wildcats will win

• Villanova has won each of its last six night games against Providence.
• Providence has lost each of its last four games.

Providence Recap

The Providence Friars come into this game looking to bounce back from a 91-82 loss at the hands of Xavier last time out to fall to 11-14 on the year. After this game, Providence will head on the road for a game against the Georgetown Hoyas.

Friars Drop 4^th Straight Game

Jayden Pierre’s logged 12.8 PPG with 2.7 RPG and 3 APG. Bensley Joseph has 11.7 PPG with 4 RPG and a team-high 3 APG to lead the Friars in assists to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Providence so far this season. Wesley Cardet Jr. has 9.3 PPG with 3.5 RPG while Corey Floyd Jr. has 9.1 PPG with 4.7 RPG while Oswin Erhunmwunse has 5.6 RPG as well on the year. As a team, Providence is averaging 71.5 PPG on 43.8% shooting from the field, 35.3% from three and 70.2% from the foul line this season.

Why the Providence Friars will win

• Providence has won 17 of its last 18 Saturday night games at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
• Villanova has lost three of its last four road games.

Providence vs Villanova Prediction

I’m on Villanova here. Let’s face it. The last two years have been pain for the Villanova program, and this season feels like the closest that the Wildcats have come to the NCAA tournament by a fair margin and I think that Villanova knows they can ill afford to slip up here if this team is serious about breaking that drought and getting back to the Big Dance. Providence is in a tailspin right now because the defense that the Friars have been able to lean on for so long now looks frail and inconsistent, and I think that Villanova takes advantage, even in a sandwich spot off of the win against St. John’s before games against UConn and Marquette. Give me the Wildcats here.

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St. John’s Red Storm Betting Preview

The St. John’s Red Storm beat Marquette and UConn, and they play Creighton, DePaul, and UCONN next. The St. John’s Red Storm are averaging 78.5 points on 45 percent shooting and allowing 65 points on 39.4 percent shooting. RJ Luis Jr. is averaging 17.6 points and 6.8 rebounds, while Zuby Ejiofor is averaging 14.2 points and 1 assist. Kadary Richmond is the third double-digit scorer and Deivon Smith is dishing 4.1 assists. The St. John’s Red Storm are shooting 29.1 percent from beyond the arc and 68.9 percent from the free throw line. The St. John’s Red Storm are allowing 33.3 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 36.4 rebounds per game.

Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

The Villanova Wildcats beat DePaul and Xavier, and they play Providence, UConn, and Marquette next. The Villanova Wildcats are averaging 75.5 points on 47 percent shooting and allowing 67.6 points on 42.6 percent shooting. Eric Dixon is averaging 23.8 points and 5.2 rebounds, while Wooga Poplar is averaging 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds. Jordan Longino is the third double-digit scorer and Jhamir Brickus is dishing 5.5 assists. The Villanova Wildcats are shooting 9.9 percent from beyond the arc and 80.9 percent from the free throw line. The Villanova Wildcats are allowing 34.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 31.4 rebounds per game.

Villanova vs St. John’s Injury Report

Villanova will be without Nnanna Njoku due to a knee injury. St. John’s will be without Brady Dunlap, while Deivon Smith is questionable with a neck injury.

Villanova vs St. John’s Prediction

The Villanova Wildcats are a tough out at home where they’re 11-3 SU on the season, and they have the offense to pull an upset. The problem is St. John’s has been far and away more consistent with 10 straight wins, and they’re 5-1 SU on the road. St. John’s is rolling at both ends of the floor and beat Villanova by 12 points last month. St. John’s has allowed less than 70 points in nine of its last 11 games. St. John’s has covered seven of its last nine games. The line is reasonable. Give me St. John’s to get its sixth road win of the season.

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Xavier Musketeers Betting Preview

Xavier has been quite the choppy team in the record column so far this year, but overall they’re winning at a higher clip than they’re losing. The Musketeers kicked off the season with a 6-0 run, taking out Texas Southern, IUPUI, Jackson State, Wake Forest, Siena, and South Carolina. A 2-2 stretch came next with losses to Michigan and TCU among wins over South Carolina State and Morgan State. Xavier beat only Seton Hall in their next six, losing otherwise versus Cincinnati, UConn, Marquette, Georgetown, and St. John’s in that time. Since then it’s been a 5-2 run for the Musketeers. The losses have come to St. John’s and Creighton; otherwise, it’s been wins over DePaul, Villanova, Marquette, UConn, and Georgetown in that time. The result in the record column so far has been a 14-9 overall run through the first 23 games of the year.

In the Georgetown matchup back on Tuesday, the Musketeers went into the second half with a 30-26 edge. Xavier hit a 44-43 run the rest of the way and powered out the win 74-69 in the end. Leading the team in scoring was Dailyn Swain with 18 points, four assists, and six rebounds. Marcus Foster managed a double-double of 17 points with 13 rebounds and two assists, while Zach Freemantle added 17 points with three rebounds and a pair of steals.

Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

Over on the Villanova side, their year has been pretty choppy. The good news is that the Wildcats have managed to keep their heads above the .500 mark so far. Villanova lost to Columbia, St. Joseph’s, Virginia, and Maryland in their first seven games, beating Lafayette, NJIT, and Penn otherwise. The Wildcats took out Rider, Cincinnati, Temple, and Fairleigh Dickinson before a loss to Creighton, then fell to Butler, DePaul, and UConn. It’s been a 2-5 stretch in the last seven outings with wins over only Providence and DePaul. Otherwise, the Wildcats have lost to St. John’s, Xavier, Georgetown, Marquette, and Creighton in that time, giving Villanova a 13-10 overall run through their first 23 games this season so far.

Matched up against DePaul in the Wednesday game, the Wildcats hit a three-point advantage in the first half. Villanova kept it up from there on a 30-23 stretch and took the double-digit road win in the end 59-49. Jordan Longino put up 17 points with three rebounds and two assists. Eric Dixon added 14 points with three rebounds, one assist, and one steal, while Wooga Poplar managed 12 points and six boards with a pair of steals. Enoch Boakye pulled down 10 rebounds with two points in 31 minutes of work during the win as well.

Why the Villanova Wildcats will win

• Villanova has won 32 of its last 37 games at Wells Fargo Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Xavier has lost four of its last five games following a home win.
• Villanova has won the first half in five of its last six day games against Xavier.

Why the Xavier Musketeers will win

• Xavier has won each of its last 13 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Villanova has lost six of its last eight day games.
• Xavier has won the first half in each of its last 10 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Villanova vs Xavier Prediction

I’ll lean toward Xavier. This should be a pretty fun matchup though, and you could probably call it either way. The Musketeers were able to fend off a comparable Georgetown team in their last outing, shooting 51 percent from the field with a 31-24 rebounding edge. It was a sloppy game overall though, with Xavier accounting for 16 of the game’s 29 total turnovers, which translated to 14 Hoyas points. The Musketeers are going to have to watch the mistakes on Sunday in this upcoming road game.

Xavier was able to win at home 69-63 the last time these teams met up back on January 14. The Musketeers’ shooting wasn’t that great (40.8 percent) and they were outmuscled on the boards 34-28 but did get 18 points off 14 turnovers. Xavier won’t be able to count on those turnovers this time, so I’d like to see a significantly higher shooting percentage.

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Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

The Wildcats had a spotty run in November but they were looking good by early January. Since then, however, Villanova has faltered. During a 3-4 opening run the Wildcats took losses to Columbia, Saint Joseph’s, Virginia, and Maryland. Wins over Rider, Cincinnati, Temple, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Seton Hall followed, then a loss to Creighton. After three more wins over Butler, DePaul, and UConn, the Wildcats began a 1-5 skid. The lone win in that time was over Providence. Otherwise, it’s been losses to St. John’s, Xavier, Georgetown, Marquette, and Creighton along the way to a spotty 12-10 overall record through the first 22 games this year.

In the Creighton game over the weekend, the Wildcats were looking at a 29-29 tie on the scoreboard following the first half. Villanova was outscored 33-31 the rest of the way during a tough home loss 62-60 in the end. Leading team scorer Wooga Poplar had 24 points with four rebounds and five steals. Eric Dixon added 17 points with five rebounds and two assists, while Jordan Longino chipped in eight points with two rebounds in 39 minutes of action in the loss.

DePaul Blue Demons Betting Preview

Over on the DePaul side, they started out on a great run over their first seven games. Since then, however, the wins have been few and far between. The Demons beat Prairie View, Mercer, Duquesne, Eastern Illinois, Northern Illinois, and Valparaiso in those opening matchups, then hit a 2-4 slide versus Texas Tech, Providence, St. John’s, and Northwestern with wins over Wichita State, and Loyola MD. After losses to UConn, Villanova, Seton Hall, Xavier, and Marquette, the Demons got another win over Georgetown. Since then it’s been a 1-3 run with losses to Creighton, Butler, and UConn ahead of a win over Seton Hall. The result so far has been an 11-12 overall record through 23 games for the Blue Demons.

Matched up against Seton Hall in their Sunday game, the Demons came out of the first half holding a 38-29 advantage. DePaul kept it rolling from there on a 36-28 stretch and took the victory 74-57 in the end. NJ Benson doubled up on 17 points with 11 rebounds and three assists alongside a pair of blocks, while CJ Gunn chipped in 16 points with seven rebounds. Isaiah Rivera came off the bench for 14 points and two rebounds, and Jacob Meyer added 11 points with one assist and one steal in 19 minutes off the bench himself.

Why the DePaul Blue Demons will win

• DePaul has won each of its last six night games at Wintrust Arena following a home win.
• Villanova has lost five of its last six games.
• DePaul has won the first half in seven of its last eight night games at Wintrust Arena.

Why the Villanova Wildcats will win

• DePaul has lost each of its last 14 night games against the Big East Conference at Wintrust Arena.
• Villanova has won each of its last five games against DePaul.
• Villanova has won the first half in each of its last eight night games against DePaul.

DePaul vs Villanova Prediction

I’ll stick with Villanova I suppose. Both teams have been struggling lately, however, so I’m probably staying away from this one. That said, the Wildcats didn’t play great versus Creighton in their last outing, shooting 39.7 percent from the field and just 17.6 percent (3-of-17) from 3-point range alongside a 40-28 rebounding deficit. The lone saving grace was the 25 points off 18 Bluejays turnovers, but it wasn’t enough to get the victory. During this 1-5 skid, the Wildcats have been below 69 points in four of the five losses, so it’d be nice to see them eclipse the 70-point mark here.

Villanova did just that the last time these teams saw each other back on January 4. The Wildcats posted a 100-56 blowout win at home there, shooting a stellar 59.7 percent from the field and 59.3 percent (16-of-27) from outside. The only spotty shooting work came at the line (10-of-18 for 55.6 percent), but otherwise, it was a pretty perfect performance all things considered. The Wildcats likely won’t dominate like that in the road rematch but I think they’ve still got the advantage in most facets.

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Creighton Bluejays Betting Preview

The Creighton Bluejays beat Seton Hall and Xavier, and they play Providence, Marquette, and UCONN next. The Creighton Bluejays are averaging 76 points on 47.9 percent shooting and allowing 68.7 points on 40.5 percent shooting. Ryan Kalkbrenner is averaging 18.3 points and 8.4 rebounds, while Steven Ashworth is averaging 16.5 points and 4 rebounds. Pop Isaacs is the third double-digit scorer and Jamiya Neal is grabbing 5.7 rebounds. The Creighton Bluejays are shooting 35.4 percent from beyond the arc and 75.6 percent from the free throw line. The Creighton Bluejays are allowing 30.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 34.5 rebounds per game.

Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

The Villanova Wildcats lost to Georgetown and Marquette, and they play DePaul, Xavier, and St. John’s next. The Villanova Wildcats are averaging 76.8 points on 47.3 percent shooting and allowing 68.7 points on 42.8 percent shooting. Eric Dixon is averaging 24.6 points and 5.3 rebounds, while Wooga Poplar is averaging 13.6 points and 6.5 rebounds. Jordan Longino is the third double-digit scorer and Jhamir Brickus is dishing 5.6 assists. The Villanova Wildcats are shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc and 79.5 percent from the free throw line. The Villanova Wildcats are allowing 35.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32 rebounds per game.

Villanova vs Creighton Injury Report

Villanova will continue to be without Nnanna Njoku due to a knee injury. Creighton will continue to be without Pop Isaacs and Larry Johnson.

Villanova vs Creighton Prediction

Right when it looked like Villanova was turning the corner, the defense takes a step back and the Wildcats have lost four of their last five games. The Creighton Bluejays are on a heater with six straight wins and seven straight covers. It looks like Creighton has finally adjusted to not having Pop Isaacs, and the Bluejays are now top-50 in offensive field goal percentage and defensive field goal percentage. If Villanova doesn’t fix its defensive issues, this game has a chance to be a blowout. Creighton can score the ball at an above average clip. Creighton also beat up on Villanova last month at home. We’re getting a bucket with the team in better form. Give me Creighton on the road.

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Villanova Fell Just Short

Villanova in the last game faced off against Georgetown and they scored 63 points, but the defense gave up 64 points and that led to the defeat. Villanova was up 34-27 at halftime and they looked like they were going to cruise to the victory. Villanova shot 40 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the three-point line. Georgetown hit 12 of their 13 free throws while Villanova hit 9 of the 12 free throws and that led to the defeat. Two games ago against Providence, they were able to secure a 75-73 victory. 

Villanova comes into this game with a 12-8 record overall and they have gone 10-10 against the spread. The over has hit in 13 of the 20 games so far this season. Villanova is averaging 76.9 points while their defense is giving up 67.8 points per game. The offense is ranked 123rd in the league while the defense is ranked 176th in the league. Forward Eric Dixon is averaging 24.9 points while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 48.7 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Marquette Looks for Second Straight Win

Marquette in the last game faced off against Seton Hall and they sure looked good. Marquette scored 76 points while the defense gave up 59 points and that was the difference. Marquette shot 41.4 percent from the field and 37 percent from behind the three-point line. They hit 18 of their 25 free throws also. Kam Jones had a strong game for Marquette putting up 19 points, four rebounds, and three assists. 

Marquette on the season comes into this game with a 16-3 record overall and they have gone 9-10 against the spread. Marquette is averaging 78.8 points while their defense is giving up 65.5 points per game. The offense is ranked 84th in the league while the defense is ranked 65th. Kam Jones put up 19.1 points while shooting 49.7 percent from the field. There were four different players that put up at least 10.5 points. 

Why Marquette Will Beat Villanova

• Marquette has won 17 of its last 18 games at Fiserv Forum when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• Villanova has lost six of its last seven night games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
• Villanova has lost the first half in six of its last eight games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.

Marquette vs Villanova Prediction

Away from home this season, Villanova has really struggled and it’s going to be much of the same here. Marquette also hasn’t been exactly elite with covering spreads, but they are still the much better team here. Marquette on the season is averaging 78.8 points per game and they are going to have no issue running up the score here. Villanova will have no answer, and Marquette will get the job done here. Back Marquete against the spread. 

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Georgetown Hoyas Betting Preview

The Georgetown Hoyas lost to DePaul and St. John’s, and they play Providence, St. John’s, and Butler next. The Georgetown Hoyas are averaging 72.8 points on 46.3 percent shooting and allowing 64.4 points on 38.7 percent shooting. Thomas Sorber is averaging 14.2 points and 8.6 rebounds, while Malik Mack is averaging 13.9 points and 4.1 rebounds. Micah Peavy is the third double-digit scorer and Jayden Epps is grabbing 2.1 rebounds. The Georgetown Hoyas are shooting 31.8 percent from beyond the arc and 72 percent from the free throw line. The Georgetown Hoyas are allowing 33.3 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 34.3 rebounds per game.

Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

The Villanova Wildcats lost to Xavier, beat Providence, and they play Marquette, Creighton, and DePaul next. The Villanova Wildcats are averaging 77.6 points on 47.9 percent shooting and allowing 68 points on 42.9 percent shooting. Eric Dixon is averaging 24.7 points and 5.1 rebounds, while Wooga Poplar is averaging 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds. Jhamir Brickus is the third double-digit scorer and Jordan Longino is dishing 2.1 assists. The Villanova Wildcats are shooting 40.3 percent from beyond the arc and 80.1 percent from the free throw line. The Villanova Wildcats are allowing 35.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 31.7 rebounds per game.

Villanova vs Georgetown Injury Report

The Villanova Wildcats will be without Nnanna Njoku due to a knee injury. The Georgetown Hoyas will be without Julius Halaifonua, while Jayden Epps and Thomas Sober are questionable.

Villanova vs Georgetown Prediction

The Georgetown Hoyas looked like a decent team a couple of weeks ago, but they’re riding a four-game losing streak and have scored under 70 points in all of those losses. Georgetown also just lost to DePaul at home as a six-point favorite. I doubt the Hoyas struggles are going to turnaround on the road, especially with Villanova being 10-1 SU at home. Villanova has owned Georgetown over the years with wins in nine of the last 10 games. The Villanova Wildcats are playing some of their best ball of the season right now, and they’ve covered four of their last six games as a favorite. Right when you’re ready to believe in Georgetown, it’s fallen off the wagon, and this isn’t a spot where it gets on track. I’ll lay the points with Villanova at home.

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Providence Friars Betting Preview

The Friars kicked off the 2024-25 season with a nice opening run, then hit a bad stretch in late November. Providence only has one instance of consecutive wins since then. Everything was looking good after a 5-0 start featuring wins over Central Connecticut, Stonehill, Hampton, Green Bay, and Delaware State. A 2-4 run ensued with wins over only BYU and DePaul amid losses to Oklahoma, Davidson, Indiana, and Rhode Island. Since then the Friars are 2-5 with wins over only Butler and Seton Hall. Otherwise, it’s been losses to St. Bonaventure, St. John’s, Marquette, UConn, and Creighton for a .500 overall record through the first 18 games so far.

Matched up against Creighton on Tuesday, the Friars entered the second half holding a 43-34 deficit on the scoreboard. Providence was outscored 41-30 the rest of the way, eventually falling 84-64 in the end. Leading the team in scoring were three starters. Ryan Mela had 10 points with seven rebounds and three assists. Wesley Cardet had 10 points with two rebounds, and Corey Floyd added 10 points with eight boards, two assists, and a steal. Oswin Erhunmwunse put up eight points with eight rebounds in 24 minutes of work, and Christ Essandoko came off the bench for seven points and three rebounds in seven minutes.

Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

Over on the Villanova side, they opened the year on a shaky run themselves, then were able to even things out starting in late November. The first seven games for the Wildcats were a 3-4 stretch featuring wins over Lafayette, NJIT, and Pennsylvania. The losses otherwise were versus Columbia, Saint Joseph’s, Virginia, and Maryland. A nice 8-1 run came after that, featuring a lone loss to Creighton. Otherwise, it was wins over Rider, Cincinnati, Temple, Fairleigh Dickinson, Seton Hall, Butler, DePaul, and UConn. Since then it’s been a couple of consecutive losses to St. John’s and Xavier though, giving the Wildcats a 11-7 overall run through 18 so far.

In the Xavier game on Tuesday, the Wildcats were looking good after the first half and holding a lead 32-24. Villanova was blitzed in the second half however, falling behind on a 45-31 stretch for a 69-63 loss in the end. Tops in scoring was Eric Dixon, who notched 18 points, four boards and two assists in the losing effort. Jordan Longino shared that distinction with his 18 points, two steals, and two rebounds, while Wooga Poplar chipped in with 14 points, five boards, three assists, and two steals. Kris Parker provided all the bench points (two) in 11 minutes of work.

Why the Villanova Wildcats will win

• Villanova has won 14 of its last 15 night games at Wells Fargo Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Providence has lost 10 of its last 11 Friday games.
• Villanova has won the first half in each of its last seven home games.

Why the Providence Friars will win

• Providence has won 12 of its last 16 night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Villanova has lost the first half in three of its last four night games at Wells Fargo Center.

Villanova vs Providence Prediction

I’m going to take Villanova here. The Wildcats posted some pretty solid overall stats in their loss to Xavier, notching 43.1 percent shooting with a 34-28 rebounding edge and 8-of-21 (38.1 percent) from outside. The killer was the 14 turnovers for 18 Musketeers points though, which essentially lost Villanova the game. The Wildcats have been below 69 points in consecutive games now after hitting 68 or more in 11 straight (an 8-3 run) prior to that.

As for Providence, they had a 40-35 rebounding edge in their 20-point loss to Creighton but also gave up 51.6 percent shooting from the field and 12 turnovers for 13 Bluejays points. The Friars didn’t shoot all that well (38.2 percent) themselves either. Providence had hit 84 or more points in three straight games (a 2-1 stretch) prior to that 64-point outing. If both teams play well in this one we should have a high total, but in the end, I like Villanova to power it out at home. Should be a fun one to watch, though.

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Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

The Wildcats opened up the 2024-25 season on a shaky run, however, they’ve been a lot more steady since late November. Villanova hit a 3-4 stride in their first seven outings, beating Lafayette, NJIT, and Pennsylvania along with losses to Columbia, Saint Joseph’s, Virginia, and Maryland in that time. The Wildcats would then hit a nice five-game win streak. The victories in that stretch came courtesy of Rider, Cincinnati, Temple, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Seton Hall in succession. Following another loss to Creighton, Villanova took wins over Butler, DePaul, and UConn before another loss to St. John’s, giving the Wildcats an 11-6 overall record so far.

In the St. John’s matchup back on Saturday, Villanova was within five points at the break with a 36-31 deficit. The Wildcats didn’t end up getting any closer than that however, trailing 44-37 in the second half on the way to an 80-68 defeat. Tops in scoring during the losing effort was Wooga Poplar with 22 points, four rebounds, and one assist. Eric Dixon added 18 points with two rebounds and three assists, while Jhamir Brickus put up 13 points, six boards and three assists in 34 minutes. Both Josiah Moseley and Kris Parker provided two bench points each.

Xavier Musketeers Betting Preview

Over on the Xavier side, they came into the year with a nice win streak, but they’ve since taken an opposite trajectory in the record column. The Musketeers’ first six games were all wins over Texas Southern, IUPUI, Jackson State, Wake Forest, Siena, and South Carolina. A 2-2 run came next with losses to Michigan and TCU alongside wins over South Carolina State and Morgan State. Xavier has since gone just 2-5 in their last seven games. The only two wins in that time were over Seton Hall and DePaul. Otherwise, it’s been losses to Cincinnati, UConn, Marquette, Georgetown, and St. John’s during a difficult stretch that’s left the Musketeers with a 10-7 overall record through the first 17 games of the season thus far.

Matched up against DePaul over the weekend, Xavier got off to a nice start and held on for a much-needed victory. The Musketeers were up 38-23 by the break, then cruised on 39 second-half points for an eventual win 77-63. Leading the team in scoring with 20 points in 32 minutes off the bench was Zach Freemantle, who also provided 10 rebounds for a double-double. Ryan Conwell led the starters with 19 points, four assists, and two rebounds, while Jerome Hunter put up 10 points with six boards and two assists in 21 minutes of action.

Why the Xavier Musketeers will win

• Xavier has won nine of its last 10 games at Cintas Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• The home team has won the first half in each of Villanova’s last seven games.

Why the Villanova Wildcats will win

• Villanova has won nine of its last 10 night games against Xavier.
• Xavier has lost each of its last four night games against the Big East Conference.
• Villanova has won the first half in six of its last seven road games against Xavier.

Xavier vs Villanova Prediction

I’m sticking with Villanova, but this should be a pretty fun matchup. The Wildcats need a good bounce-back after falling to a talented St. John’s team in their last outing as well. Villanova put up a tepid 39.3 percent shooting in that one and got demolished on the boards with a 44-28 deficit (17-8 offensive). The good news for the Wildcats is that they’ve been scoring quite well for most of the year. Villanova has hit 68 or more points in 12 straight games—a 9-3 overall run.

As for Xavier, they put up a nice effort versus a middling DePaul team in their last outing. The Musketeers shot 48.1 percent from the field with a 36-28 rebounding edge but did get a little careless with ball control on 12 turnovers. Xavier has posted 70 or more points in five of the last six games themselves, so we should have a pretty hefty total here if both teams play to their capabilities.

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Villanova Has Won Two Straight

Villanova has won two straight games and they have some confidence right now. Two games ago against Butler, they were up 73-65 and in the last game against DePaul, they were able to secure a 100-56 victory. At halftime, they were up 48-32, and they never looked back on the way to the victory. Forward Eric Dixon put up 25 points, five rebounds, and four assists. There are five different players that put up at least 11 points to help pace them. 

Villanova on the season is averaging 80.1 points while their defense is giving up 66.9 points per game. The offense is ranked 75th in the league while the defense is ranked 74th in the league. Eric Dixon has been the star of the show for this team averaging 25.9 points while shooting 53.4 percent from the field and 49 percent from behind the three-point line. He has really kept this team afloat all year with his scoring and rebounding. 

Why Villanova Will Beat UConn 

• Villanova has won 48 of its last 51 night games against Conference opponents at Finneran Pavilion.

UConn Has Confidence

UConn had some issues at times early in the season but they have a ton of confidence right now. UConn in the last game faced off against Providence and that was enough for the three-point victory. UConn shot 56.3 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from behind the three-point line. Hassan Diarrra put up 19 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. There were six different players that put up at least 10 points. Two games ago against DePaul, they scored 81 points on the way to the win. Overall UConn sits with a 12-3 record overall but they have gone only 8-7 against the spread. 

UConn is averaging 83.9 points per game while their defense is giving up 68.6 points per game. The offense is ranked 31st in the league while the defense is ranked 108th. Alex Karaban has been the top player for UConn averaging 16.3 points while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from behind the three-point line. UConn will play Georgetown, Creighton, and Butler next.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Villanova’s last 11 night games against the Big East Conference has produced a total of 146 or fewer points.
• Each of Connecticut’s last four games against Conference opponents has produced a total of 149+ points.

Villanova vs UConn Prediction

Give me Villanova here. Yes, Uconn might be the better team, but especially in the last game, they didn’t look exactly dominant. This Villanova team is good and they are averaging 80.1 points per game. Eric Dixon is having a huge season and is going to put on a show here. UConn’s defense has shown some holes in the last couple of games and they are going to really struggle to defend here. Villanova is going to score enough, and they are going to end up covering the spread here. 

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Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

The Villanova Wildcats are 9-5 (2-1) this year after they defeated Butler by a score of 73-65 in their last game. Villanova trailed 31-30 at halftime, but they scored 43 points in the second half for the win. The Wildcats shot 42.4% from the field, 34.6% on three-pointers, and 87.5% on free throws in the game. Eric Dixon led Villanova with 28 points and four rebounds, while Wooga Poplar added 18 points and 15 rebounds in the win. 

Prior to that game, the Wildcats lost to Creighton by a score of 86-79 but did beat Seton Hall by a score of 79-67 before that. Villanova has won six of their last seven games, including a win over Cincinnati by a score of 68-60. Villanova has scored 78.6 points per game and they have allowed 67.7 points per game, while also averaging 35.6 rebounds and 13.7 assists per game this season. Eric Dixon is averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, while Wooga Poplar is averaging 13.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game this year. Villanova is shooting 48.5% from the field, 80.5% on free throws, and 40.2% on three-pointers this season. 

DePaul Blue Demons Betting Preview

The DePaul Blue Demons are 9-5 (0-3) this season after they lost to UConn by a score of 81-68 in their last game. DePaul trailed 43-22 at halftime, but they did score 46 points in the second half for the win. The Blue Demons shot 39.6% from the field, 25% on three-pointers, and 82.1% on free throws in the game. Conor Enright led DePaul with 18 points and nine assists, while Jacob Meyer added 12 points and three rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Blue Demons defeated Loyola Maryland by a score of 84-65 but did lose to Northwestern by a score of 84-64 before that. DePaul has lost five of their last seven games, including two conference losses against Providence and St. John’s. DePaul has scored 79.2 points per game and they have allowed 70.5 points per game, while also averaging 37.9 rebounds and 18.1 assists per game this season. Jacob Meyer is averaging 14.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game, while Isaiah Rivera is averaging 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game this year. DePaul is shooting 45.8% from the field, 71% on free throws, and 38.5% on three-pointers this season. 

Why Villanova will beat DePaul

• DePaul has lost each of its last 25 games against the Big East Conference.
• Villanova has won each of its last six games at Finneran Pavilion.
• DePaul has lost the first half in each of its last 10 day games against the Big East Conference.

Total Points Facts

• Fourteen of Villanova’s last 15 games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 146 or fewer points.
• Each of DePaul’s last six day games has produced a total of 148+ points.

Villanova vs DePaul Prediction 

DePaul comes into this matchup after playing very well in the non-conference, but they are 0-3 in the Big East so far. The Blue Demons are only shooting 45.8% from the field this year and they have scored 64 points or fewer in two of their last three losses. Villanova has bounced back from a slow start to the season and they have won six of their last seven games. The Wildcats are shooting 48.5% from the field, but their defense has been very solid. DePaul has struggled within conference play for years and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. We know the Blue Demons will upset at least one or two teams within the conference, but I don’t think it is going to be here. Villanova is trending in the right direction and I like them to get an easy win here. 

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Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

The Wildcats took a spotty 3-4 record over their first seven games, losing to Columbia, Saint Joseph’s, Virginia, and Maryland. The wins otherwise were versus Lafayette, NJIT, and Pennsylvania. Villanova is 5-1 since then with wins over Rider, Cincinnati, Temple, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Seton Hall before a loss to Creighton.

In the matchup with the Bluejays on December 21, the Wildcats held a 40-38 deficit by halftime. Villanova was outscored by five points the rest of the way in an 86-79 loss. Eric Dixon posted 27 points with two rebounds to lead the way. Turning in a double-double on 19 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists was Wooga Poplar. Jhamir Brickus also finished in double-figures with 16 options and four assists. The Wildcats didn’t get much out of their bench, though. That group contributed only six points—four of which came from Kris Parker.

Dixon is the lead scorer on the team so far this year. He’s sporting 25.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Poplar is in second but well behind that pace on 13.2 points per game, but his 6.6 rebounds per game are tops on the team. Also in double-figures is Brickus with 11.5 points per game to go along with his 5.6 assists per game.

Butler Bulldogs Betting Preview

Over on the Butler side, they were looking great after eight games on a 7-1 record with a lone loss to Austin Peay 68-66. The wins otherwise were versus Missouri State, Western Michigan, SMU, Merrimack, Northwestern, Mississippi State, and Eastern Illinois. Since then, the Bulldogs have lost their last five straight to Houston, North Dakota State, Wisconsin, Marquette, and UConn, though. A loss here would put Butler back at .500 on the season so far.

In the UConn game, the Bulldogs were looking at a 42-33 deficit by halftime. Butler climbed back with a 41-36 second but still fell 78-74. Both Andre Screen (10 rebounds) and Patrick McCaffery (two rebounds) led the way with 17 points each. Pierre Brooks added 13 points and six rebounds. Coming off the bench with nine points and eight rebounds was Kolby King.

Jahmyl Telfort scored just seven points in the Bulldogs’ last game (with six boards and seven assists) but he still holds the No. 1 spot in scoring with 15.5 points per game. Brooks is second with 15.0 points per game to go along with his 4.6 rebounds per game. McCaffery is also in double-digits on 13.2 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game. King is pretty far back of that trio on his 7.3 points per game but he’s also second on the team with 5.1 rebounds per game this season.

Why the Butler Bulldogs will win

• The home team has won 10 of the last 11 games between Villanova and Butler.
• Villanova has lost five of its last six games at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
• Butler has won the first half in six of its last seven night games.

Why the Villanova Wildcats will win

• Villanova has won each of its last six night games.
• Butler has lost each of its last five games.
• Villanova has won the first half in each of its last six night games.

Butler vs Villanova Prediction

I’ll stay with Butler. The Bulldogs have had a pretty rough time during this current losing streak, but to be fair they’ve played some tough teams in that stretch—four of them being ranked. One of those was UConn, and Butler managed a decent showing in a four-point loss there. The Bulldogs have posted 70 or more points in each of the last three outings, losing two by single-digits (Wisconsin and UConn) and one by 10 points (Marquette).

As for Villanova, they couldn’t quite keep pace with Creighton in their last game despite shooting 50 percent from the field and only notching one turnover. The Wildcats have scored 79 or more points in four straight games now, so this one should be a pretty high total. Butler is going to have to hit the gas offensively but I think the Bulldogs can keep a cover/win pace. It’ll be a fun matchup regardless.

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Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

Villanova came out of the gate this year with a 3-4 run, taking losses to Columbia, Saint Joseph’s, Virginia and Maryland. The Wildcats have since beaten Rider, Cincinnati, Temple, Fairleigh Dickinson and Seton Hall.

In their Seton Hall matchup, the Wildcats were ahead comfortably 37-29 by halftime. Villanova hit a 42-38 run the rest of the way in a 79-67 finish. Leading the way was Eric Dixon with 25 points and six boards.

Creighton Bluejays Betting Preview

Over on the Creighton side, they won their first four games this year before losses to Nebraska, San Diego State and Texas A&M. The Bluejays beat Notre Dame, Kansas and UNLV before losses to Alabama and Georgetown.

In the Georgetown game Wednesday, the Bluejays faced a six-point deficit in the first half. Creighton was outscored 47-29 the rest of the way in an 81-57 loss. Steven Ashworth posted a team-high 21 points and four assists in the defeat.

Creighton vs Villanova Prediction

I’ll lean toward Villanova. The Wildcats didn’t have too many issues with Seton Hall in their last game thanks to 55.3 percent shooting, 31 rebounds and 17 team assists. Villanova has scored 72 or more points in four of the five games during this current winning streak and should put up a good number here as well.

As for Creighton, they shot just 39.6 percent from the field with 16 turnovers and a 39-25 rebounding deficit in a bad loss to Georgetown on Wednesday. The Bluejays normally score way better than that, though; they’d hit 73 or more points in five straight prior to that defeat. Creighton should be more comfortable at home but I think Villanova can hit a cover pace. It’ll be a fun matchup.

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Seton Hall Pirates Betting Preview

The Seton Hall Pirates lost to Oklahoma State and Rutgers, and they play Georgetown, Xavier, and DePaul next. The Seton Hall Pirates are averaging 60.4 points on 40.9 percent shooting and allowing 60 points on 41.1 percent shooting. Isaiah Coleman is averaging 12 points and 1.5 assists, while Chaunce Jenkins is averaging 11.5 points and 4.3 rebounds. Dylan Addae-Wusu is dishing 2.9 assists and Yacine Toumi is grabbing 3.3 rebounds. The Seton Hall Pirates are shooting 35.4 percent from beyond the arc and 59.4 percent from the free throw line. The Seton Hall Pirates are allowing 31.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 30.9 rebounds per game.

Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

The Villanova Wildcats beat Fairleigh Dickinson and Temple, and they play Creighton, Butler, and DePaul next. The Villanova Wildcats are averaging 79.1 points on 48.4 percent shooting and allowing 66.4 points on 42.7 percent shooting. Eric Dixon is averaging 25.8 points and 5.9 rebounds, while Wooga Poplar is averaging 13.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. Jhamir Brickus is the third double-digit scorer and Jordan Longino is dishing 1.9 assists. The Villanova Wildcats are shooting 40.5 percent from beyond the arc and 79.9 percent from the free throw line. The Villanova Wildcats are allowing 35.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.3 rebounds per game.

Why the Villanova Wildcats will win

• Villanova has won 69 of its last 73 night games at Finneran Pavilion against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Seton Hall has lost three of its last four games.
• Villanova has won the first half in each of its last six games.

Villanova vs Seton Hall Prediction

The Seton Hall Pirates haven’t looked great against better competition, and they’re not shooting the ball well. The Villanova Wildcats aren’t as talented as teams in the past, but they’re playing solid ball as of late, and they’ve covered 5 of their last 6 games. Villanova has been led by its defense during this winning stretch, and that’s not ideal for a Seton Hall squad that has issues scoring. Give me Villanova in a double-digit victory on Tuesday.

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Fairleigh Dickinson Recap

The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights come into this one looking to build on a 98-54 win over subdivision Lehman last time out. After this game, Fairleigh Dickinson will take on La Salle.

Knights Looking To Build Steam

Terrence Brown leads the Knights across the board with 21.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 2.8 APG while Dylan Jones has 12.6 PPG and Jo’el Emanuel has 10.6 PPG with 3.7 RPG to round out the scoring in double figures so far this season. Ahmed Barba-Bey has 8.4 PPG while Bismark Nsiah has 7.7 PPG with 5.2 RPG. As a team, Fairleigh Dickinson is averaging 81.7 PPG on 46.6% shooting from the field, 38% from three, and 70.6% from the foul line this season.

Why the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights will win

• Fairleigh Dickinson has won the first half in four of its last five games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Villanova Recap

The Villanova Wildcats come into this game looking to add to a 94-65 win over Temple last time out. After this game, Villanova will take on Seton Hall to kick off conference play at home.

Wildcats Win Third Straight

Eric Dixon leads the Wildcats in scoring with 25.7 PPG along with 6.6 RPG while Wooga Poplar has 13 PPG with 6.7 RPG to lead Villanova on the glass. Jhamir Brickus has 11.7 PPG with a team-high 5.2 APG to lead the Wildcats in the assist department, rounding out the trio of double-digit scorers for Villanova up to this point in the year. Jordan Longino also has 9.1 PPG with 2.1 APG while Tyler Perkins has 8.5 PPG with 3.7 RPG. As a team, Villanova is averaging 78.4 PPG on 47.8% shooting from the field, 41.5% from three, and 78.9% from the foul line this season.

Why the Villanova Wildcats will win

• Fairleigh Dickinson has lost each of its last 11 games against the Big East Conference.
• Villanova has won 68 of its last 72 night games at Finneran Pavilion against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Villanova vs Fairleigh Dickinson Prediction

I’m on Villanova here. It’s not something I’m overly comfortable with considering Villanova has burned a hole in bettors’ pockets for the better part of the last two years. However, the Wildcats have kind of looked like they’ve figured something out in recent weeks, and maybe Villanova basketball is back on track? Either way, it beats the alternative in Fairleigh Dickinson, who has really struggled in step-up spots this season. Give me Villanova here.

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Villanova Has Won Two Straight Games

Villanova has been very inconsistent this season but they have won two games in a row. In the last game against Cincinnati, they had the best game of the season and they scored 68 points and ended up winning by eight points. Eric Dixon had a huge game putting up 31 points and seven rebounds. There were three different players that put up at least 12 points.

Villanova shot 48.9 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the three-point line. Villanova on the season is averaging 76.7 points while their defense is giving up 65.9 points per game. The offense is ranked 170th in the league while the defense is ranked 69th. Forward Eric Dixon is averaging 25.9 points per game while shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 52.8 percent from behind the three-point line. Villanova will meet FDU, Seton Hall, and Creighton after this game.

Why Villanova Will beat Temple

• Villanova has won 30 of its last 34 games at Wells Fargo Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Temple has lost three of its last four games.
• Temple has lost the first half in 19 of its last 25 games against non-AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue.

Temple Struggled in the Last Game

Temple has been inconsistent this season and the defense really struggled in the last game. Temple scored 75 points against La Salle but the defense gave up 83 points and that led to the eight-point defeat. Quante Berry had a strong game putting up 18 points, 15 rebounds, and three assists. Temple on the season is averaging 79 points while their defense is giving up 74 points per game. The offense is ranked 121st in the league while the defense is ranked 252nd. Jamal Mashburn Jr is averaging 22.1 points while shooting 45 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Villanova vs Temple Prediction

Villanova has been inconsistent but they are coming off a big victory in the last game. Eric Dixon is having a huge season and he is averaging 25.9 points and they are going to have no issue running up the score here. Temple’s defense is giving up 74 points per game and they are going to really struggle to defend here. Villanova is going to put on a show here with the offense and they will cover the spread. 

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Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

The Villanova Wildcats are 4-4 this year after they defeated Rider by a score of 72-48 in their last game. Villanova led 36-20 at the half and they were able to pull away in the second half for the blowout win. The Wildcats shot 41.4% from the field, 39.5% on three pointers, and 75% on free throws in the game. Eric Dixon led Villanova with 16 points and three rebounds in the win. 

Prior to that game, the Wildcats lost to Maryland by a score of 76-75, but did beat Penn by a score of 93-49 before that. Villanova has scored 77.8 points per game and they have allowed 66.6 points against per game, while also averaging 36.1 rebounds and 13 assists per game this season. Eric Dixon is averaging 25.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, while Villanova is shooting 46.4% from the field, 80.9% on free throws, and 38.6% on three pointers this year. 

Cincinnati Bearcats Betting Preview

The Cincinnati Bearcats are 6-0 this season after they defeated Alabama State by a score of 77-59 in their last game. Cincinnati led 46-33 at halftime and held Alabama State to just 26 points in the second half for the win. The Bearcats shot 44.9% from the field, 32.3% on three pointers, and 41.7% on free throws in the game. Simas Lukosius led Cincinnati with 16 points and four rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Bearcats defeated Georgia Tech by a score of 81-58 and Northern Kentucky by a score of 76-60. Cincinnati has scored 85.3 points per game and they have allowed 56 points against per game, while also averaging 39.8 rebounds and 19 assists per game this season. Simas Lukosius is averaging 16.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, while Cincinnati is shooting 53.6% from the field, 59.8% on free throws, and 41.5% on three pointers this year. 

Why Cincinnati will Villanova

• Cincinnati has won each of its last six games.
• Villanova has lost each of its last six games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Cincinnati has won the first half in each of its last 11 games.

Total Points Facts

• Eight of Cincinnati’s last nine games against the Big East Conference have produced a total of 139+ points.
• Five of Villanova’s last six night games against the Big 12 Conference have produced a total of 143+ points.

Villanova vs Cincinnati Prediction 

Cincinnati comes into this matchup with an undefeated record so far this season, but the best team they have played is Georgia Tech, who they beat by 20+ points. Villanova has won two of their last three games, but they do have losses against Maryland, Virginia, St. Joe’s, and Columbia so far this year. The Bearcats are shooting over 53% from the field this year and even though they haven’t played the best competition, I don’t like what I have seen from Villanova. Take the Bearcats here. 

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Rider Broncs Betting Preview

The Rider Broncs lost to Iowa, beat Bucknell, and they play Delaware, Fairfield, and Quinnipiac next. The Rider Broncs are averaging 64.5 points on 40.2 percent shooting and allowing 70 points on 42.4 percent shooting. T.J. Weeks Jr. is averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, while Tariq Ingraham is averaging 10.2 points and 0.8 assists. Jay Alvarez is the third double-digit scorer and Flash Burton is grabbing 2.8 rebounds. The Rider Broncs are shooting 29.1 percent from beyond the arc and 69.9 percent from the free throw line. The Rider Broncs are allowing 29.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 34.8 rebounds per game.

Villanova Wildcats Betting Preview

The Villanova Wildcats beat Penn, lost to Maryland, and they play Cincinnati, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Seton Hall next. The Villanova Wildcats are averaging 78.6 points on 47.1 percent shooting and allowing 69.4 points on 43.9 percent shooting. Eric Dixon is averaging 26.7 points and 7.2 rebounds, while Wooga Poplar is averaging 13.1 points and 6.4 rebounds. Jhamir Brickus is the third double-digit scorer and Jordan Longino is dishing 2.9 assists. The Villanova Wildcats are shooting 38.5 percent from beyond the arc and 81.6 percent from the free throw line. The Villanova Wildcats are allowing 37.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 33.7 rebounds per game.

Why the Villanova Wildcats will win

• Villanova has won 47 of its last 52 games against non-conference opponents at Finneran Pavilion.
• Rider has lost the first half in six of its last eight games against the Big East Conference.

Villanova vs Rider Prediction

The Villanova Wildcats are obviously the more talented team and should be favored, but they’re also not the same Villanova team from past years. Villanova has also failed to cover 7 of its last 10 games. The Rider Broncs are battle-tested with nothing but road games, and they’ve won a couple as an underdog, beating Bucknell, Navy, and San Diego. Rider won’t be intimated in this spot, given it’s been on the road all season. Give me the points.

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Villanova Has Been Inconsisent

Villanova has been inconsistent heading into this game but they are coming off a key win. In the last game against Villanova, the defense gave up only 49 points while the offense scored 93 points on the way to the victory. Eric Dixon had a strong game putting up 23 points, six rebounds, and two assists. There were four different players that put up at least 12 points. Villanova shot 53.2 percent from the field and 60 percent from behind the three-point line. Even though they won that game, this is a team that has a couple of bad losses also. Villanova is averaging 79.2 points while their defense defense is giving up 68.2 points per game. The offense is ranked 156th while the defense is ranked 127th. Villanova will take on Rider, Cincinnati, FDU, and Seton Hall after this one. 

Maryland Dominated the Last Game

Maryland lost two games ago to Marquette, but in the last game against Canisius, they looked better. The offense scored 108 points and they ended up cruising to a victory. There were six different players that put up at least 10 points. Julian Reese had a strong game putting up 20 points, 12 rebounds, and one assist. Maryland on the season is averaging 86.2 points while their defense is giving up 53.8 points per game. The offense is ranked 35th in the league while the defense is ranked 5th. The offense might get the attention but what the defense has done has been special so far this season. 

Why Villanova Will Beat Maryland

• Maryland has won 31 of its last 36 day games against non-conference opponents.
• Villanova has lost each of its last three day games against non-conference opponents.
• Villanova has lost the first half in three of its last four day games.

Villanova vs Maryland Prediction

Maryland is going to have no issue getting the job done here. Maryland’s defense is giving up 53.8 points and they are going to step up in a big way here. Villanova’s offense is going to really struggle to get the offense going here, and it’s going to be Maryland that is going to get the job done here. I wouldn’t be shocked if Maryland wins this game by 20 points. Back Maryland against the spread here.

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