Fansided

Oklahoma vs Villanova preview, predictions, betting odds, live stream info

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 27, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Darryl Reynolds (45) reaches for a rebound in the Championship game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Barclays Center. Villanova won, 69-52. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Darryl Reynolds (45) reaches for a rebound in the Championship game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Barclays Center. Villanova won, 69-52. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners vs No. 8 Villanova Wildcats

This is one of the more spectacular college athletic events out there as the Oklahoma Sooners and Villanova Wildcats will be facing off in a battle of top-10 teams in Hawaii on the 74th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

Both the Sooners and Wildcats are off to hot starts and have yet to be beaten. One team will come out on top looking like a sure national title contender after this one — well, both have the opportunity to be considered that with a competitive game.

Plenty of talent on both ends of the court for these teams means that we will see some great Monday night basketball. Forget Monday Night Football, right?

Details for Monday’s Oklahoma vs Villanova game are below: 

Date: Monday, Dec. 7
Start Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Hickham, HI
Stadium: Boch Arena
TV Info: FOX Sports 1
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go
Radio: For Oklahoma radio affiliates, click here. For Villanova radio affiliates, click here.

Keys to Victory

Oklahoma Sooners

Luckily, the Sooners have multiple guys who can score the ball. However, there is one in particular who should be handling the offense and he is Buddy Hield. With a win in this one, the Sooners could move into the top-five and their leader needs to keep them composed.

Get the ball in Hield’s hands early and often and the Sooners should improve to 6-0. Also, forcing Villanova to take outside shots instead of high-percentage ones since the Wildcats struggle from the perimeter.

Villanova Wildcats

Improved shooting from the perimeter can’t hurt the Wildcats as shooting just 30 percent from long range has not hurt this team much this season, but it could when playing top-tier teams such as Oklahoma.

Post play will also be key along with trying to slow down a sharpshooting Hield. Get the ball into the post for a guy like Daniel Ochefu and have him go to work on the Sooners’ big men. Oklahoma shoots 46 percent from three-point range, so forcing the Sooners inside would be wise.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Villanova -3.5

Prediction

Oklahoma hasn’t played as many games as most college basketball teams this season, so the sample size we have gotten from them doesn’t tell us much other it the fact the Sooners can shoot lights out. Buddy Hield is going to have to have a great game in order to help the Sooners overcome underdog status, according to Vegas, and pull out a win. The Wildcats will make it interesting as second chance points for Villanova will keep it close.

Final Score: Oklahoma 76, Villanova 72