West Virginia at Villanova College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/23/2018

Friday, March 23, 2018

TD Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The West Virginia Mountaineers head to TD Garden to take on the Villanova Wildcats on Friday, March 23, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Villanova as 4.5 point favorites.

West Virginia comes into this game with an overall record of 26-10. They currently have a point differential of 11.1 as they are averaging 80.2 points per game while giving up 69.0 per contest. Villanova has an overall record of 32-4. They are averaging 86.9 points per game and surrendering 70.3, good for a point differential of 16.6.

Valuable West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Trends

The West Virginia Mountaineers are 17-15 against the spread this season

The West Virginia Mountaineers are 13-14 against the over/under this year

Important Villanova Wildcats Betting Trends

The Villanova Wildcats are 23-12 against the spread this season

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

Key West Virginia Mountaineers Injuries

03/19/18 F Wesley Harris Concussion is "?" Friday vs Villanova
03/18/18 G Brandon Knapper Knee is out indefinitely

Key Villanova Wildcats Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Jevon Carter averages 17.4 points per contest while playing 34.6 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.7 rebounds per contest and distributes 6.6 assists per game. His FG percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is 86%. Daxter Miles averages 12.8 points per contest in 28.8 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.1 assists per game and 2.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 74%.

Player Spotlight

Jalen Brunson scores 19.1 points per contest while playing 31.6 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 3.1 rebounds per contest and has 4.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is at 80%. Mikal Bridges averages 18 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.4 rebounds per game and has 2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

West Virginia averages 80.2 points per contest this year, which is 45th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 11.1 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 219th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 145th in Division 1. They average 37.8 boards per contest and 15.3 assists per game, which ranks them 66th and 70th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 311th with 11.4 per game. The Mountaineers allow 69.0 points per contest, which is 91st in the country. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 80th and 312th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.2 rebounds a game which ranks 143rd, and they allow 12.4 assists per game which puts them in 95th place in college basketball. They force 16.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 342nd in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Villanova is 1st in the country with 86.9 points per contest this season. They are 5th in the nation in shooting at 50%, while their average scoring margin is 16.6. They shoot 40% from beyond the arc, which is good for 12th in Division 1. They are 173rd in the country in rebounding with 35.5 boards per contest and 14th in assists per game with 16.8. The Wildcats are 339th in turnovers per contest with 10.4. The Wildcats give up 70.3 points per game, which ranks them 118th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 126th and 49th in those defensive statistics. They rank 218th with 13.9 dimes allowed per game and 62nd with 32.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Wildcats are 191st in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Mountaineers are 22nd in the nation in offensive rating with 113.4, and their defensive rating of 97.7 is ranked 46th. In terms of pace they are 132nd in the country with 70.4 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 207th. As a team they are 174th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 147th in Division 1. West Virginia is 331st in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 20.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 128th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Villanova is 343rd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 88th in Division 1. The Wildcats are 81st in the nation in defensive rating with 99.4, and their offensive rating of 122.9 is ranked 1st. They are 152nd in D-1 in pace with 70 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 60% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 62% and they shoot 3-pointers on 47% of their shot attempts, ranking 14th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take West Virginia +4.5

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