Villanova vs. UConn NCAA Basketball Odds, Preview and Prediction (Archive)
The Big East serves up a clash of ranked teams as the season enters its stretch run. No. 8 Villanova has won five straight to move into second place in the conference at 21-6 overall, 14-3 in Big East games. UConn has won three in a row and is tied for third in the Big East at 19-7, 10-3 in conference. The Huskies are 12-2 at home and will look to upset the visiting Wildcats. Let´s take a look at the NCAA odds.
Villanova Wildcats vs. Connecticut Huskies
Tuesday, February 22, 2022 – 08:00 PM EST at XL Center
Seeding for the upcoming conference and NCAA basketball tournaments will be at stake as the Big East serves up a clash of ranked teams to start the season’s stretch run.
No. 8 Villanova is currently projected as a three-seed in the NCAAs and is looking to jump to a two-line. The Wildcats have won five straight to move into second place in the Big East at 21-6 overall, 14-3 in the conference.
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UConn has won three in a row and is tied with Creighton for third in the Big East at 19-7, 10-3. The Huskies are 12-2 at home and will look to upset the visiting Wildcats and boost their NCAA seed to a top-four spot. UConn is currently slated for a No. 5 seed. The Huskies are 12-2 at home and will look to knock off the visiting Wildcats.
Chippy First Meeting
It’s been two weeks since the first meeting between UConn and Villanova, in Philadelphia. The Wildcats jumped out to a big lead, going up by as many as 23 before winning an 85-74 decision that left both sides with hard feelings. There were technical fouls and some pushing and shoving, but Nova won for the fifth straight time, dating back to 2014. The Wildcats’ last regular-season loss to UConn was in 2012.
Both teams came into that game off of a loss—Nova to Marquette by 10 and UConn to Creighton by four. Both teams enter this rematch coming from a much better place. The Wildcats and Huskies have combined to win eight of nine games since that first matchup.
Justin Moore missed the first game with a foot injury. He hasn’t missed a game since, but he’s still been feeling the effects. Collin Gillespie went down with an injury in the game. He’s also played in each of the four games since but hasn’t been himself, going scoreless against St. John’s and scoring just nine against Georgetown, just the second and third times this season he’s been held to single digits.
The duo consists of Villanova’s top two scorers and assist men. Both participated in parts of Monday’s practice and should play, although neither will likely be at full strength.
Looking for Breakthrough Win
For a team with national championship history, UConn has not ceded the top of the Big East to Villanova easily. While the Wildcats have been the class of the conference in recent seasons, UConn is ready to challenge for its old spot atop the league. And it starts with the head-to-head matchup against Nova.
"This is the best that we've come in," coach Dan Hurley said. "Our first couple of years, we didn't have much of a chance to beat them. They were significantly better than us. They've played better than us, they've had a better season than us to this point. But now we have a chance to play them at home in front of a sellout crowd that's going to be raucous."
The Huskies aren’t at 100 percent, health-wise. Akok Akok hasn’t played since Feb. 1, due to a foot sprain. Hurley said Akok will be a game-time decision for the Nova rematch.
UConn also has several nagging problems. Tyrese Martin is nursing a bad ankle and RJ Cole has had trouble with his hip. Isaiah Whaley also missed practice this week due to the stomach flu. All three are expected to play, however.
The Pick
Villanova isn’t in the position where sportsbooks have them set as underdog very often, but entering a rowdy, hostile arena against a team that’s had this game circled will put them there Tuesday night. The Wildcats are used to big games, however, and they’ve also been eyeing this one. Look for Nova to keep UConn in its place again.
NCAAB Pick: Villanova +2 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.