Ohio State vs. Villanova Prediction and Odds for Second Round of NCAA Tournament (Wildcats Climb into Sweet 16)
Ohio State sent Sister Jean and Loyola Chicago home in the first round and will try to do the same to Jay Wright and Villanova on Sunday at 2:40 p.m. ET on CBS. The Wildcats, meanwhile, come off a convincing win over No. 15 Delaware in the first round.
This is going to be a fun matchup, with both schools having excellent offenses. The winner of this game plays the winner of Tennessee and Michigan in the Sweet 16.
Will chalk hold, or will Ohio State continue to avenge its poor performance from last year's tournament?
Here are the odds for the matchup via WynnBET.
Ohio State vs. Villanova Odds, Spread and Total
Spread:
- Ohio State: +5 (-110)
- Villanova -5 (-110)
Moneyline:
- Ohio State: +180
- Villanova: -220
Total:
- 132.5 (Over: -110/Under: -110)
Ohio State vs. Villanova Prediction and Pick
These are two of the top 15 offenses in the country, according to KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency. They are efficient at all three levels and have shown the ability to get tough wins all season long. The differentiator between the two is defense and free throw shooting, which is why I'll take Villanova.
The Wildcats are 33rd in the country in defensive efficiency, over 70 spots higher than the Buckeyes. On top of that, Villanova is the best free throw shooting team in the country. The Wildcats shoot 82% from the line, which is a big reason why I'm picking them to get to the Sweet 16. Every game in the tournament from this point on is expected to be a tight one. Free throws are critical and Nova can handle themselves in those situations.
Ohio State will also need to find a way to get the Cats off the offensive glass. Villanova is 76th in the country in offensive rebound%. Second chance points is an easy way to build a big lead or cover up a poor shooting game.
The Buckeyes got a good draw with Loyola Chicago, but they will have to knock off an experienced team that has won it all before. Good luck to them.
LEAN: Villanova -5 (-110)
You can find Donnavan Smoot’s full betting record here.
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