Villanova at Xavier College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/17/2018

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Cintas Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Villanova Wildcats travel to Cintas Center to play the Xavier Musketeers on Saturday, February 17, 2018. The opening line for this game has Villanova as 1 point favorites.

Villanova heads into this matchup with a mark of 23-3. They currently have a point differential of 16.6 as they are averaging 87.2 points per contest while giving up 70.6 per game. Xavier has an overall mark of 24-3. They are averaging 85.3 points per contest and giving up 74.6, which is a point differential of 10.7.

Valuable Villanova Wildcats Betting Trends

The Villanova Wildcats are 16-9 against the spread this season

The Villanova Wildcats are 17-9 against the over/under this year

Important Xavier Musketeers Betting Trends

The Xavier Musketeers are 19-8 against the spread this season

The Xavier Musketeers are 15-12 against the over/under this year

Key Villanova Wildcats Injuries

12/29/17 F Jermaine Samuels Hand is out indefinitely
01/24/18 G Phil Booth Hand is out indefinitely

Key Xavier Musketeers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Mikal Bridges averages 16.5 points per game in 32.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.2 assists per contest and 5.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%. Jalen Brunson averages 19.8 points per game while playing 31.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is at 81%.

Player Spotlight

J.P. Macura averages 12.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 83%. Trevon Bluiett averages 19.6 points per game while playing 34.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 5.7 rebounds per game and has 2.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Wildcats allow 70.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 133rd in the nation. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 160th and 109th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.7 rebounds a game which ranks 75th, and they give up 13.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 216th place in the country. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 182nd in college basketball. Villanova averages 87.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 3rd in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 16.6 and their shooting percentage is 51% as a team, which has them ranked 8th. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 19th in D-1. They average 35.3 rebounds per game and 16.5 assists per game, which ranks them 190th and 32nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 340th with 10.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Musketeers surrender 74.6 points per contest, which ranks them 239th in the country. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 95th and 114th in those defensive statistics. They rank 243rd with 14.2 assists allowed per contest, and 34th with 31.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Musketeers are 47th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 11.4 per game this season. Xavier is 9th in Division 1 with 85.3 points per game this year. They are 15th in the country in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 10.7. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 69th in the nation. They are 50th in college basketball in rebounding with 38.4 boards per game and 21st in assists per contest with 16.9. The Musketeers are 231st in turnovers per game with 12.5.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 1st in the nation in offensive rating with 123.2, and their defensive rating of 99.7 is ranked 106th. In terms of pace they are 126th in the country with 70.8 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 60% is 2nd. As a team they are 2nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 62% and they shoot 3-pointers on 46% of their shots, ranking 25th in Division 1. Villanova is 342nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 121st in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Xavier is 270th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 127th in the nation. The Musketeers are 13th in the country in offensive rating with 116.4, and their defensive rating of 101.8 is ranked 173rd. In terms of pace they are 56th in Division 1 with 72.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 57% is 21st. As a team they are 11th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 61% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 211th in the nation.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Xavier +1

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