Villanova at Butler College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/30/2017

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Hinkle Fieldhouse

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Villanova Wildcats travel to Hinkle Fieldhouse to play the Butler Bulldogs on Saturday, December 30, 2017. The opening line for this game has Villanova as 5.5 point favorites.

Villanova comes into this game with an overall record of 13-0. They currently have a point differential of 21.9 as they are averaging 87.8 points per game while giving up 65.8 per contest. Butler has an overall record of 11-3. They are averaging 78.6 points per game and surrendering 67.6, good for a point differential of 11.1.

Valuable Villanova Wildcats Betting Trends

The Villanova Wildcats are 9-3 against the spread this season

The Villanova Wildcats are 9-4 against the over/under this year

Important Butler Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Butler Bulldogs are 7-6 against the spread this season

The Butler Bulldogs are 8-5 against the over/under this year

Key Villanova Wildcats Injuries

12/29/17 F Tim Delaney Virus is "?" Saturday vs Butler
12/12/17 G Collin Gillespie Hand is out indefinitely

Key Butler Bulldogs Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jalen Brunson averages 17.9 points per game while playing 30.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is at 75%. Mikal Bridges averages 17.5 points per game in 30.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2 assists per contest and 5.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 51% for the year while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Kelan Martin averages 18.6 points per game while playing 34.9 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 7 rebounds per game and has 1.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. Kamar Baldwin averages 14.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.5 rebounds per contest and 2.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

Villanova averages 87.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 12th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 21.9 and their shooting percentage is 51% as a team, which has them ranked 16th. Behind the arc they shoot 42%, which is good for 11th in the country. They average 36.3 rebounds per game and 17.3 assists per game, which ranks them 181st and 39th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 337th with 10.8 per game. The Wildcats allow 65.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 56th in Division 1. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the arc, ranking them 130th and 54th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.3 rebounds a game which ranks 72nd and they give up 13.0 assists per contest, which puts them in 163rd place in college basketball. They force 14.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 227th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Butler is 97th in the country with 78.6 points per game this year. They are 76th in D-1 in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 11.1. They shoot 33% from 3-point range, which is good for 255th in college basketball. They are 211th in the nation in rebounding with 35.4 boards per game, and 176th in assists per contest with 14.0. The Bulldogs are 269th in turnovers per game with 12.4. The Bulldogs surrender 67.6 points per contest, which ranks them 88th in the country. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 149th and 275th in those defensive statistics. They rank 54th with 11.3 assists allowed per contest and 54th with 31.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bulldogs are 314th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 16.6 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 3rd in the nation in offensive rating with 123.5, and their defensive rating of 92.6 is ranked 44th. In terms of pace they are 163rd in the country with 71.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 60% is 5th. As a team they are 5th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 63% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shots, ranking 69th in Division 1. Villanova is 334th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 96th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Butler is 277th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15 times per 100 possessions while forcing 20.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 173rd in Division 1. The Bulldogs are 60th in the nation in defensive rating with 93.7, and their offensive rating of 109 is ranked 102nd. They are 208th in D-1 in pace with 70.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 113th. As a unit they are 117th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 212th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Villanova/Butler college basketball game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Butler +5.5

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