The early part of the season for most teams in college basketball is all about getting into a groove and picking up some relatively easy win against non-conference opposition. As the season progresses, though, and rankings are released and updated, it’s more about maintaining a ranking that puts a team into a position of relative power once the tournament rolls around. There are, as we know, zero guarantees of playoff success with a high seeding, but you certainly expect the higher seeds in the bracket to have a clearer path to a National Championship than those who are down among the lower seeds. The teams currently occupying the top 25 in the national rankings are doing all they can to stay there or climb a little higher. The Villanova Wildcats are in the top 25 right now and looking to start moving back in the right direction after a tough run of form. They will head to Chicago on Wednesday night to go against the DePaul Blue Demons in a game that you would expect them to win rather comfortably. Villanova is in as a 4 ½ point road favorite, with the point total for this one set at 141. Let’s see how the College Basketball betting odds will be for the Villanova vs DePaul.
Villanova vs DePaul Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Wednesday, February 19 at 9 PM EST
- Where: Wintrust Arena, Chicago
- TV: CBSSN
- NCAAB Odds: Villanova -5.5 / Total 140
Why bet on the Villanova Wildcats
The Villanova are just two years removed from a National Championship and once again need to be placed among the favorites to win it all this year. They have, though, seen their stock drop a little in recent weeks, falling all the way down to #12 in the national rankings, thanks in large part to a 3-game losing skid that they are just now pulling out of. That losing skid all but put an end to their hopes of winning the Big East regular season title, but the good news is that they seem to be back on track, winning back to back games to get to 19-6 on the season. They have dominated DePaul in recent seasons, winning each of the last 10 meetings, but they needed OT to get a 79-75 win at home earlier this season.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 73.6
- Field Goal %: 43.76
- Three Point %: 35.68
- Free Throw %: 77.53
- Total Rebounds: 36.08
Defense
- Total Score: 66.72
- Field Goal %: 43.61
- Three Point %: 31.81
- Free Throw %: 70.39
- Total Rebounds: 34.56
Why bet on the DePaul Blue Demons
While the DePaul Blue Demons gave Villanova the fright of their lives when they met earlier this season, they do not look to be in a position to repeat that feat right now. The Blue Demons are on a bit of a skid, coming into this one having lost each of their last 7 games. Further compounding the issue is the fact that the Blue Demons have failed to pick up a win in each of their last 9 home games against Villanova, so if you are looking at home court as an advantage, you may want to rethink that. The Blue Demons are 2-5 ATS during their 7-game losing skid and are just 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games played on home court. In Wednesday games, DePaul has seen 7 of their last 10 go OVER the point total.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 72.52
- Field Goal %: 44.46
- Three Point %: 32.26
- Free Throw %: 64.77
- Total Rebounds: 37.84
Defense
- Total Score: 69.96
- Field Goal %: 40.46
- Three Point %: 32.34
- Free Throw %: 73.08
- Total Rebounds: 36.96
Villanova vs DePaul Betting Trends
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Villanova’s last 7 games.
- Villanova are 15-4 SU in their last 19 games.
- Villanova are 10-0 SU in their last 10 games against DePaul.
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Villanova’s last 8 games on the road.
- DePaul are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of DePaul’s last 6 games.
- DePaul are 0-7 SU in their last 7 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of DePaul’s last 5 games against Villanova.
Villanova vs DePaul Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
The last meeting between these two was close, but I think Villanova have had a bit of a wake-up call in the last couple of weeks with that losing skid. I am on the Wildcats to win and cover quite handily here.
Villanova Wildcats 81 DePaul Blue Demons 68
