The ninth ranked Villanova Wildcats will look to extend their winning ways when they host a 13th-ranked Butler Bulldogs squad that come crashing back to earth following their blistering start to the regular season. With both Big East title hopefuls looking for the statement-making win in this matchup, let’s find out where the best value lies in this Tuesday night showdown of Top 20 teams.
Butler vs Villanova 2020 College Basketball Lines, Analysis & Prediction
- When: Tuesday January 21, 2020, 7:00 PM ET
- Where: The William B. Finneran Pavilion, Villanova, PA
- TV: CBSSN
- Radio: Butler / Villanova
- Live Stream: CBSSports.com
- College Basketball Odds: Villanova -3.5 / Total: 129.5
Why Bet On Butler?
After going 15-1 through their first 16 games of the season, Butler has now dropped two in a row in losing to a ranked Seton Hall squad 78-70 last Wednesday and following that up with an even more disturbing 79-66 road loss against DePaul team that had been 0-4 in Big East play prior to their upset win. Kamar Baldwin scored a team-high 16 points on 6 of 16 shooting from the field, but it wasn’t nearly enough to take down DePaul.
“Our guys just have to understand every night in the Big East, this is what it is,” said Bulldogs coach LaVall Jordan said.
The Bulldogs do have an elite defense that ranks fifth nationally in points allowed (57.1 ppg) and 15th in field goal shooting defense (37.7%). Butler averages just 68.7 points per game (252nd) and has gone 5-2 SU and 3-2 ATS on the road this season.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 68.72
- Field Goals: 47.11%
- Three Points: 35.59%
- Free Throws: 71.67%
- Rebounds: 35.28
- Average Score Against: 57.06
- Field Goals: 37.67%
- Three Points: 27.89%
- Free Throws: 68.17%
- Rebounds: 28.67
Why Bet On Villanova?
Villanova has won four straight and nine of their last 10 games overall and comes into this matchup off an ‘ugly’ 61-55 win over UConn on Saturday. Jermaine Samuels scored a team-high 19 points to lead the way to victory while Jeremiah Robinson-Earl added 11 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists.
“Attitude is so important to us,” said Jeremiah Robinson-Earl after the win.
The Wildcats average 74.8 points per game (103rd) while limiting the opposition to 66.8 points per contest defensively (123rd). The Wildcats have gone a perfect 10-0 SU and 5-4 ATS on their home floor.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 74.82
- Field Goals: 44.74%
- Three Points: 35.18%
- Free Throws: 77.95%
- Rebounds: 36.12
- Average Score Against: 66.82
- Field Goals: 44.40%
- Three Points: 31.35%
- Free Throws: 69.03%
- Rebounds: 33.35
College Basketball Betting Trends for Butler vs Villanova
- Butler is 1-4 ATS in the last 5 games against Villanova
- Butler is 15-3 SU in the last 18 games
- The total went OVER in 11 of Butler’s last 14 games played in January
- Villanova is 4-8 ATS in the last 12 games
- Villanova is 10-1 SU in the last 11 games
- The total went UNDER in 6 of Villanova’s last 7 games
Butler vs Villanova Expert Analysis and Prediction
Butler is struggling right now at the defensive end of the floor and the Bulldogs are really limited offensively because of a lack of consistent scorers. That’s certainly not the case for a Villanova team that can score the ball with any team in the country. Not only that, but the Wildcats are also very good at the defensive end of the floor, not to mention they’ve yet to lose at home this season in 10 outings.
With the home team in this Big east rivalry going a near-perfect 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings and Villanova finding their way nicely this season, I like the Wildcats to take care of business at home to cover the surprisingly low spread.
Pick: Villanova 75 Butler 69
