Published Feb 16, 7:32am ET by
Demilade Adelekun - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Feb 16, 7:32am ET
Updated Feb 16, 7:34am ET
Villanova travels to Xavier, aiming to extend its win streak. Xavier is looking to rebound after a tough road loss.
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| Xavier Musketeers | +2.5 (-110) |
| Villanova Wildcats | -2.5 (-110) |
Villanova is 20‑5 overall and 11‑3 in the Big East with a NET ranking of 32. With some down years in the post-Jay Wright era, the Wildcats are back to their winning ways.
Villanova has a very balanced offensive attack. They prioritize getting good looks from deep, leading to their top 50 rankings in the nation in 3-pointers made per game. Junior guard Tyler Perkins is the head of the snake for the Wildcats. He is currently averaging 13.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Xavier is 13‑12 overall and 5‑9 in the Big East. During games, the Musketeers can go from automatic to not being able to buy a bucket. Though they can be inconsistent, they have quality players who can score in bunches.
Xavier has an aggressive offensive philosophy; they like to get shots up early and often. They are currently 13th in the nation in shots attempted per game at 63.4. If shots are falling for the Musketeers, they are a tough out.
Villanova vs Xavier is a battle of a team that prioritizes great looks vs a team that prioritizes offensive volume. A key data point we are looking at for this matchup is the Wildcats ability to cover. They have covered in 7 of their last 9 games. We think Villanova's shot quality will lead to them taking the points. Our pick is Villanova ATS (-2.5)
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Pick
Villanova ATS (-2.5)
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