The 2020-21 college basketball season starts Wednesday, November 25, with plenty of interesting matchups on the schedule including the 2K Empire Classic showdown between the Villanova Wildcats and Boston College Eagles.
These two schools meet each other for the first time since 2006, and the Wildcats have won three of their previous four encounters with the Eagles while covering twice in that span. Villanova is a massive fave in this one, so let’s see what can we expect on Sunday night.
The Wildcats and Eagles will take on each other at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, opening the season with the neutral-site battle.
The Wildcats enter the new season as the No. 3 in the country
Villanova split the Big East Conference regular-season title last term, finishing with a 24-7 overall record and 13-5 in the conference play, as well as the Creighton Bluejays. The Wildcats had five players who averaged points in double figures, and four of those five guys will return this season.
Saddiq Bey (16.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG) decided to join the NBA, but guards Collin Gillespie (15.1 PPG, 4.5 APG) and Justin Moore (11.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG), and forwards Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (10.5 PPG, 9.4 RPG) and Jermaine Samuels (10.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG) all look ready to bring the third national championship to Villanova in six years.
Last season, the Wildcats averaged 113.9 points per 100 possessions (15th in the nation) while yielding 94.0 in a return (36th). They finished as the 18th-best team in the KenPom rankings.
The Eagles search for their second winning season in four years
Boston College went 13-19 overall and 7-13 in the conference play this past regular season, finishing at the 12th spot of the ACC standings. The Eagles will look to improve this term, but that will be a tall task after losing four of their top-six scorers from the previous season.
At least, the Eagles return Jay Heath, and the 6-foot-3 sophomore guard led the way last year with 13.1 points, 3.4 boards, and 2.1 assists per game.
The Eagles finished the 2019-20 season as the No. 179 at the KenPom rankings. They were scoring 99.6 points per 100 possessions (228th in the country) while surrendering 100.3 to their opponents (128th). It’s fair to say that the Eagles’ strength of schedule was the 47th-toughest in the nation.
Trends:
Villanova:
- 4-2-1 ATS in the last seven games against Boston College
- 19-7-1 ATS in the last 27 neutral site contests
Boston College:
- 1-5 ATS in the last six games overall
- 2-4 ATS in the last six games against the Big East
The Winner Prediction
According to BetAmerica, the Wildcats are 13.5-point favorites for their opener, and I cannot argue with the bookies. Villanova returns four important players which should be a huge advantage at the start of the season, especially against Boston College.
The Wildcats are a way more talented team than the Eagles, so I don’t have any dilemma. Give me Villanova to cover.
Pick: Take Villanova and the points (-13.5) (-110).
The Total:
The Eagles struggled offensively last season, and with a bunch of new players on the roster, I’m looking for more of the same this term. The Wildcats are not an elite defensive team, but they love to play at a slow pace, so I’m backing the under.
Villanova shouldn’t have too many problems to score against the Eagles, but the Wildcats averaged only 66.2 possessions per 40 minutes last season (275th in the country). On the other side, the Eagles recorded 69.3 possessions per 40 minutes (179th).
I think the Eagles will build a double-digit lead early, looking to slow down things in the second half.
Pick: Go under 141.0 points (-110)