Villanova vs Louisville: Big East Tournament Predictions
Written March 13, 2009 by Jordan Haimowitz
What a wild game that was yesterday when Villanova faced Marquette. Up by 16 at one point, Nova blew the lead and trailed by one until Anderson of Nova somehow ended up wide open under the basket for the winning layup. If The Wildcats showed you anything in that game its that they can score in bunches and get scored on in bunches. They average 77 PPG on the year and give up 67 against. Corey Stokes was fantastic off the bench scoring 20 points while Scottie Reynolds had another big game for his team dropping 21 points and adding 8 assists. Nova’s up and down tempo worked wonders in the first half, they were shooting a very high percentage while playing solid defense. The second half came and they took their foot off the gas which opened the door for Marquette. If they do that tonight, they will not be so fortunate. The Wildcats have the athleticism to match up with Louisville unlike most teams in the country. A major key in this game will be if Nova can keep it close in the last five minutes and put the pressure on Louisville to hit big free throws when it counts. Nova shoots 74% as a team from the line while the Cardinals shoot a poor 64.5%. Tricky game to pick in my eyes. However, I feel I have a good handle on it. If you are looking to bet on the side of this game, the odds currently show Louisville as a 4.5 point favorite over Villanova.
While many of the top teams got beat yesterday Louisville won by double digits. Many would say that the Ville did not even play a good game, they still found a way to beat a decent providence team. Freshman Samardo Samuels was an absolute force inside while Earl Clark is continuing to play his best ball of the year. Terrence Williams is what many people believe their MVP this year. He had one of his worst games to date. That shows how deep and talented Louisville is. Rick Pitino can taste that #1 seed in the tourney. He wants it bad and with a Big East Tournament Championship he will solidify that accomplishment for sure. Louisville defeated Pittsburgh, Uconn and Villanova this year. They do not crumble in big games. However, Villanova will have plenty to play for as they will attempt to improve on their seeding and try to avenge for a one point loss to Louisville they had this year. Expect a close game in the last three minutes which will result in a lot of fouling that will prolong the game. So if you ask me who will cover…Louisville or Villanova? I’ll say, “I don’t know” but I do see the OVER hitting with ease.
Prediction: Both Teams combine for an average of 151 PPG. They are scoring at a very high pace right now. Here are some trends to chew on: The OVER is 6-2 in the last eight games when Louisville is the favorite and the OVER is 8-3 in Villanova’s last 11 Big East Games. While the first meeting between the two was a 61-60 Louisville win expect a much higher scoring game. Villanova was 14-14 ATS the O/U spread this year and Louisville was 14-15 ATS O/U. This game will hit the over so make sure you get on board with Jordan’s Picks coming off another winning night.
Regular Season Records:
Villanova 26-6
Louisville 26-5
Betting Line: OVER/UNDER 141.5
Jordan’s Pick: Take Villanova/Louisville OVER 141.5
Final Score Prediction(my registered pick is listed above)
Louisville 77
Villanova 70
Check the NCAA basketball odds on all of the tournament games and more here at BetFirms. Plus, if you are looking for even more college basketball picks to help you win this season, look no further than our handicappers.
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- Odds to Win the NCAA Championship: Villanova Wildcats
- Arizona vs Louisville: NCAA Tournament Odds & Predictions
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