The Villanova Wildcats will stay at No. 1 in the polls after they had an unbeaten week last week. They host Philadelphia Big 5 rival Temple on Tuesday night, one of the better matchups on an otherwise unremarkable slate of college basketball. Nova is a solid favorite on college basketball odds.
Temple at Villanova Odds, Expert Pick & TV Info
#TUMBB Holds on for 74-65 Win Over DePaul at Hoophall Miami Invitational
Recap » https://t.co/qi2zpusEC0 pic.twitter.com/gPOWWRqWUr
— Temple Men’s BBall (@TUMBBHoops) December 10, 2016
When: Tuesday, Dec. 13, 7 PM ET
Where: The Pavilion, Villanova
TV: Fox Sports 1
Stream: Fox Sports Go
Radio: Temple
Opening NCAA Basketball Lines: TBA
Why Bet On Temple?
The Owls (7-3) beat DePaul 74-65 Saturday at the Hoophall Miami Invitational. Temple was up by as many as 25 points in the second half, and still led by 23 with 7:17 remaining before a 20-2 run got DePaul within five points in the final minute. The Owls were shaky at the stripe with the Blue Demons in pursuit, but made 4-of- 6 free throws the rest of the way to seal the win.
Four Owls scored in double figures, led by Obi Enechionyia and Shizz Alston, Jr. with 15 points apiece and Quinton Rose with 12 points. Enechionyia and Alston also led Temple with seven rebounds each. Josh Brown scored 11 points and dished a game-high five assists in his first start of the year, but made his biggest impact defensively. Brown was named Hoophall Miami Invitational MVP, recorded a career-high seven steals, the most for a Temple player since Will Cummings at SMU on Feb. 19, 2015.
Temple’ already has two victories over Top 25 teams, No. 25 Florida State and No. 19 West Virginia enroute to winning the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament over Thanksgiving.
The Owls are also 3-0 in Philadelphia Big 5 play. Enechionyia leads Temple and ranks third in The American with 19.0 points per game. He tied his career high for a second time this season earlier with 26 points in a win at Saint Joseph’s including 6-of- 12 three-pointers. Enechionyia has scored in double figures in all 10 games to start the season, including five games with 20 or more points. Alston, Jr. leads The American and ranks second in NCAA Division I with an assist/turnover ratio of 7.3 while also leading the league and ranking 38th in the nation with 2.2 steals per game.
Why Bet On Villanova?
The Wildcats (10-0) beat No. 23 Notre Dame 74-66 in New Jersey on Saturday. Josh Hart scored a career- high 37 points and Villanova rallied from an 11-point deficit. This game was a part of the Never Forget Tribute Classic honoring the families of victims impacted by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Hart was the only Villanova player to score in double figures. He was 10 of 14 from the field, including 3 of 4 from behind the arc, and he made all 14 of his free throw attempts. Hart also had 11 rebounds. That makes him the first player since Antawn Jamison in 1998 to finish with at least 35 points and 10 boards and shoot better than 70 percent against a ranked team. In Hart’s four years, Villanova has won 107 games and lost only eight
“He’s as good as anybody I’ve seen,” Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. “Now I know I have a special spot for seniors, but he’s just tough. Mentally and physically, he really drives that team and he’s gotten better every year. He’s a winner.”
Villanova took its first lead of the game at 57-56 after Eric Paschall blocked Steve Vasturia’s 3-pointer with 9:15 left. Hart assisted on a layup by Jalen Brunson at 9:09 to give the Wildcats the lead. The teams exchanged the lead from there until Villanova pulled away in the final minute. Dating to their national championship run last season, the Wildcats are tied for the longest winning streak in school history at 16 games.
Last year, Villanova won at Temple 83-67 when it was also No. 1 in the nation. Brunson had 25 points. Daniel Ochefu had 16 points and nine rebounds, and Kris Jenkins added 15 points. Those latter two are gone now. Hart had just four points. Trey Lowe led Temple with 21 points. Villanova scored the first seven points of the second half for a 42-23 lead and never looked back.
Temple at Villanova Expert Pick: Villanova Wildcats
Take the Wildcats here.
