Butler at Villanova College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/9/2018

Friday, March 9, 2018

Madison Square Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Butler Bulldogs head to Madison Square Garden to take on the Villanova Wildcats on Friday, March 9, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Villanova as 6 point favorites.

Butler heads into this matchup with a mark of 20-12. They currently have a point differential of 7.3 as they are averaging 79.6 points per contest while giving up 72.3 per game. Villanova has an overall record of 27-4. They are averaging 87.2 points per game and surrendering 71.2, good for a point differential of 16.0.

Valuable Butler Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Butler Bulldogs are 15-15 against the spread this season

The Butler Bulldogs are 17-13 against the over/under this year

Important Villanova Wildcats Betting Trends

The Villanova Wildcats are 19-11 against the spread this season

The Villanova Wildcats are 21-10 against the over/under this year

Key Butler Bulldogs Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Villanova Wildcats Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Kelan Martin averages 21.2 points per contest while playing 35.4 minutes per night this year. He grabs 6.4 rebounds per contest and distributes 2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage is 86%. Kamar Baldwin averages 15 points per contest in 33.7 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.2 assists per game and 4.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 77%.

Player Spotlight

Jalen Brunson scores 19 points per contest while playing 32 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3 rebounds per contest and has 4.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. Mikal Bridges averages 17.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.5 rebounds per game and has 2.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Butler averages 79.6 points per contest this year, which is 52nd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 7.3 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a unit, which has them ranked 50th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 128th in Division 1. They average 34.5 boards per contest and 14.1 assists per game, which ranks them 223rd and 139th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 312th with 11.3 per game. The Bulldogs allow 72.3 points per contest, which is 174th in the country. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 233rd and 285th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 32.5 rebounds a game which ranks 55th, and they allow 12.5 assists per game which puts them in 108th place in college basketball. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 273rd in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Villanova is 1st in the country with 87.2 points per contest this season. They are 5th in the nation in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 16.0. They shoot 40% from beyond the arc, which is good for 25th in Division 1. They are 183rd in the country in rebounding with 35.3 boards per contest and 16th in assists per game with 16.9. The Wildcats are 340th in turnovers per contest with 10.4. The Wildcats give up 71.2 points per game, which ranks them 145th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 162nd and 52nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 231st with 14.0 dimes allowed per game and 82nd with 33.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Wildcats are 194th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulldogs are 56th in the nation in offensive rating with 110.9, and their defensive rating of 100.7 is ranked 120th. In terms of pace they are 150th in the country with 70.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 72nd. As a team they are 75th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 173rd in Division 1. Butler is 317th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 242nd in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Villanova is 344th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 106th in Division 1. The Wildcats are 91st in the nation in defensive rating with 99.6, and their offensive rating of 122.1 is ranked 1st. They are 108th in D-1 in pace with 70.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 60% is 2nd. As a unit they are 3rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 62% and they shoot 3-pointers on 47% of their shot attempts, ranking 19th in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Butler +6

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