Marquette at Villanova College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/8/2018

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Madison Square Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Marquette Golden Eagles travel to Madison Square Garden to play the Villanova Wildcats on Thursday, March 8, 2018. The opening line for this game has Villanova as 5 point favorites.

Marquette comes into this game with an overall record of 18-12. They currently have a point differential of 3.6 as they are averaging 81.9 points per game while giving up 78.3 per contest. 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 Marquette Golden Eagles Betting Trends

The Marquette Golden Eagles are 15-14 against the spread this season

The Marquette Golden Eagles are 18-11 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 Marquette Golden Eagles Injuries

11/27/17 G Haanif Cheatham Left Team is out for season

Key Villanova Wildcats Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Markus Howard averages 20.9 points per game while playing 31.8 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 53% while his free throw percentage is at 94%. Andrew Rowsey averages 19.9 points per game in 31.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.7 assists per contest and 3.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 90%.

Player Spotlight

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

Useful Team Statistics

Marquette averages 81.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 31st in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 3.6 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 45th. Behind the arc they shoot 42%, which is good for 4th in the country. They average 32.5 rebounds per game and 16.0 assists per game, which ranks them 317th and 37th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 254th with 12.1 per game. The Golden Eagles allow 78.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 309th in Division 1. They also allow a 48% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 318th and 205th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.2 rebounds a game which ranks 90th and they give up 14.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 292nd place in college basketball. They force 12.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 141st in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Villanova is 1st in the country with 87.2 points per game this year. They are 5th in D-1 in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 16.0. They shoot 40% from 3-point range, which is good for 25th in college basketball. They are 184th in the nation in rebounding with 35.3 boards per game, and 16th in assists per contest with 16.9. The Wildcats are 340th in turnovers per game with 10.4. The Wildcats surrender 71.2 points per contest, which ranks them 144th in the country. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 160th and 52nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 230th with 14.0 assists allowed per contest and 82nd with 33.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 195th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.3 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Golden Eagles are 21st in the nation in offensive rating with 114.5, and their defensive rating of 109.5 is ranked 310th. In terms of pace they are 117th in the country with 70.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 57% is 17th. As a team they are 17th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 45% of their shots, ranking 38th in Division 1. Marquette is 258th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 297th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Villanova is 343rd 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 107th 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 106th 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 Marquette/Villanova college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Villanova -5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink