The No. 14 Villanova Wildcats (13-3) welcome the UConn Huskies (10-6) in a matchup that pits great offense against exceptional defense. The game is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 18, 2020.
UConn Huskies vs. Villanova Wildcats Betting Prediction
In the Huskies’ last outing, they were topped by the No. 23 Wichita State Shockers, 89-86. Wichita State’s 0.467 effective field goal percentage was their largest strength over UConn, who had a mark of 0.419. The Shockers’ mark was below their season average of 0.486, while the Huskies’ was below their season average of 0.482. Christian Vital was the top scorer from either team with 25 points on 8-for-17 shooting.
The Wildcats defeated the DePaul Blue Demons in their last matchup, 79-75. One of Villanova’s biggest advantages was their ability to convert at the free throw line. They were 18-21 (85.7 percent), while the Blue Demons were just 6-10 (60.0 percent). With 13 points and 13 rebounds, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl played well for Villanova.
This matchup pits one of the nation’s top offenses against one of its elite defenses. Villanova ranks 29th in offensive efficiency and UConn ranks 46th in defensive efficiency. Also, the Huskies are among the NCAA’s best on the offensive backboards, ranking 50th in offensive rebounding percentage (33.4 percent). The Wildcats, meanwhile, rank 59th in defensive rebounding percentage (75.2 percent).
After the Wildcats won the only contest against the Huskies last season, 81-58, this will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams. The Wildcats had a much better free throw rate (0.319 vs. 0.130) and had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (30.4 vs. 15.2).
UConn Huskies vs. Villanova Wildcats Betting Pick
Prediction: ATS Winner – Villanova, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
Villanova ranks 35th in assists per game (15.7) while UConn ranks 138th (13.1).
The Huskies have been outscored by an average of 1.2 points in their last five games. For the season, UConn has defeated opponents by an average of 7.1 points.
During their last five games, the Wildcats have scored an average of 70.2 points per game (5.5 below their season average) and allowed an average of 66.6 points per game (1.0 below their season average).
