DePaul at Villanova College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/21/2018

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Wells Fargo Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The DePaul Blue Demons head to Wells Fargo Center to take on the Villanova Wildcats on Wednesday, February 21, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Villanova as 21.5 point favorites.

DePaul heads into this matchup with a mark of 10-16. They currently have a point differential of -0.2 as they are averaging 73.5 points per contest while giving up 73.7 per game. Villanova has an overall record of 24-3. They are averaging 87.4 points per game and surrendering 70.9, good for a point differential of 16.6.

Valuable DePaul Blue Demons Betting Trends

The DePaul Blue Demons are 14-12 against the spread this season

The DePaul Blue Demons are 14-12 against the over/under this year

Important Villanova Wildcats Betting Trends

The Villanova Wildcats are 17-9 against the spread this season

The Villanova Wildcats are 18-9 against the over/under this year

Key DePaul Blue Demons Injuries

12/09/17 G Devin Gage Achilles is out for season

Key Villanova Wildcats Injuries

02/20/18 G Phil Booth Hand is "?" Wednesday vs Depaul

Player Spotlight

Max Strus averages 16.8 points per contest while playing 35.6 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is 79%. Marin Maric averages 14 points per contest in 26.7 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.3 assists per game and 6.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 56% for the season while his free throw percentage is 87%.

Player Spotlight

Jalen Brunson scores 19.5 points per contest while playing 31.8 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3.1 rebounds per contest and has 4.9 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. Mikal Bridges averages 16.8 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.4 rebounds per game and has 2.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

DePaul averages 73.5 points per contest this year, which is 195th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -0.2 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a unit, which has them ranked 241st. From 3-point territory they shoot 33%, which is good for 293rd in Division 1. They average 37.6 boards per contest and 15.2 assists per game, which ranks them 82nd and 81st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 128th with 13.6 per game. The Blue Demons allow 73.7 points per contest, which is 217th in the country. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 124th and 303rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 35.3 rebounds a game which ranks 202nd, and they allow 15.0 assists per game which puts them in 289th place in college basketball. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 266th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Villanova is 1st in the country with 87.4 points per contest this season. They are 6th in the nation in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 16.6. They shoot 40% from beyond the arc, which is good for 15th in Division 1. They are 200th in the country in rebounding with 35.0 boards per contest and 26th in assists per game with 16.8. The Wildcats are 342nd in turnovers per contest with 10.3. The Wildcats give up 70.9 points per game, which ranks them 142nd in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 166th and 112th in those defensive statistics. They rank 228th with 13.9 dimes allowed per game and 72nd with 32.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Wildcats are 175th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Blue Demons are 230th in the nation in offensive rating with 102.5, and their defensive rating of 102.7 is ranked 194th. In terms of pace they are 92nd in the country with 71.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 292nd. As a team they are 292nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 293rd in Division 1. DePaul is 178th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 207th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Villanova is 346th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 122nd in Division 1. The Wildcats are 113th in the nation in defensive rating with 100.2, and their offensive rating of 123.5 is ranked 1st. They are 121st in D-1 in pace with 70.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 60% is 1st. As a unit they are 2nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 63% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shot attempts, ranking 23rd in the country.

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

Guy's Pick: Take DePaul +21.5

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