Betsided

Marquette vs. Villanova Prediction and Odds (Back Golden Eagles to Cover Big Spread)

By Iain MacMillan

Marquette will take on Villanova in Wednesday night college basketball action.
Marquette will take on Villanova in Wednesday night college basketball action. / Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit

A battle between two of the top teams in the Big East is set for tonight when the Villanova Wildcats host the Marquette Golden Eagles.

Villanova enters the matchup on a six-game winning stream, which included two huge wins against Xavier and an 82-42 beatdown of Butler this past Sunday.

Now the Wildcats face a Marquette team who has also been hot in recent game. After starting 0-3 in conference play, Marquette has strung together four-straight wins against Big East opponents with its latest coming in a 73-72 thriller against Seton Hall.

Let's take a look at the odds via WynnBET for tonight's Big East showdown.

Marquette vs. Villanova Odds, Spread, and Total

Spread:

  • Marquette +13.5 (-110)
  • Villanova -13.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

  • Marquette +670
  • Villanova -1000

Total:

  • 140 (Over -110/Under -110)

Marquette vs. Villanova Betting Trends

  • Marquette is 3-1 ATS on the road this season.
  • The OVER is 10-7-1 in Marquette's games this season.
  • Villanova is 6-1 ATS against Big East opponents this season.
  • Villanova is 10-3 ATS as a favorite this season.

Marquette vs. Villanova Prediction and Pick

Despite the difference in the records of these two teams, especially in Big East competition, these two teams are a lot more similar than you'd think and the double-digit spread is unwarranted.

Marquette ranks 88th in effective field goal percentage this season, while Villanova ranks behind them in that statistics at 100th. The two teams are also similar when it comes to defensive play. The Wildcats rank 50th in defensive efficiency and the Golden Eagles rank 74th.

The biggest thing you need to consider when betting on a Villanova game, is how its opponent does in defending the 3-point shot. The Wildcats rank 29th in the country in 3-point shot rate, with 46% of their field goal attempts coming from beyond the arc. Marquette does alright in this category, ranking 92nd in opponent 3-point field goal percentage.

There's no stat or trend that justifies the current spread, so I'm going to back the Golden Eagles to keep it close.

Pick: Marquette +13.5

Home/College Basketball Predictions and Picks