Marquette at Villanova College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/6/2018

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Wells Fargo Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Marquette Golden Eagles travel to Wells Fargo Center to play the Villanova Wildcats on Saturday, January 6, 2018. The opening line for this game has Villanova as 14.5 point favorites.

Marquette comes into this game with an overall record of 11-4. They currently have a point differential of 8.3 as they are averaging 83.5 points per game while giving up 75.2 per contest. Villanova has an overall record of 13-1. They are averaging 88.1 points per game and surrendering 68.4, good for a point differential of 19.8.

Valuable Marquette Golden Eagles Betting Trends

The Marquette Golden Eagles are 6-8 against the spread this season

The Marquette Golden Eagles are 8-6 against the over/under this year

Important Villanova Wildcats Betting Trends

The Villanova Wildcats are 9-4 against the spread this season

The Villanova Wildcats are 10-4 against the over/under this year

Key Marquette Golden Eagles Injuries

11/27/17 G Haanif Cheatham Personal has left team

Key Villanova Wildcats Injuries

12/29/17 F Jermaine Samuels Hand is out indefinitely
12/12/17 G Collin Gillespie Hand is out indefinitely
01/05/18 F Tim Delaney Virus is "?" Saturday vs Marquette

Player Spotlight

Andrew Rowsey averages 22 points per game in 31.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.1 assists per contest and 2.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 90%. Markus Howard averages 22.6 points per game while playing 31.8 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.5 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 60% while his free throw percentage is at 100%.

Player Spotlight

Mikal Bridges averages 17.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.4 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 80%. Jalen Brunson averages 18.9 points per game while playing 30.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.4 rebounds per game and has 5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 60% and his free throw percentage is at 73%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Golden Eagles allow 75.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 245th in the nation. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 306th and 92nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.3 rebounds a game which ranks 98th, and they give up 13.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 219th place in the country. They force 14.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 245th in college basketball. Marquette averages 83.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 34th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 8.3 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 74th. Behind the arc they shoot 41% which is good for 16th in D-1. They average 31.6 rebounds per game and 15.9 assists per game, which ranks them 335th and 68th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 297th with 11.9 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Wildcats surrender 68.4 points per contest, which ranks them 93rd in the country. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 183rd and 155th in those defensive statistics. They rank 189th with 13.5 assists allowed per contest, and 77th with 32.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 239th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.6 per game this season. Villanova is 10th in Division 1 with 88.1 points per game this year. They are 11th in the country in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 19.8. They shoot 42% from 3-point range, which is good for 15th in the nation. They are 210th in college basketball in rebounding with 35.6 boards per game and 35th in assists per contest with 17.1. The Wildcats are 343rd in turnovers per game with 10.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Golden Eagles are 20th in the nation in offensive rating with 117, and their defensive rating of 105.4 is ranked 271st. In terms of pace they are 209th in the country with 70.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 58% is 19th. As a team they are 16th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 49% of their shots, ranking 9th in Division 1. Marquette is 288th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 270th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Villanova is 341st in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 162nd in Division 1. The Wildcats are 89th in the nation in defensive rating with 96.1, and their offensive rating of 123.9 is ranked 3rd. They are 162nd in D-1 in pace with 71.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 60% is 4th. As a unit they are 4th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 62% and they shoot 3-pointers on 44% of their shot attempts, ranking 57th in the country.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Villanova -14.5

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