8:35 pm
February 21

DePaul @ #3 Villanova

What will be the GAME RESULT?

#3 Villanova: Wins By 20+ Points

Any Other Result

 

Current odds:

DePaul: (TBD)

Villanova: (TBD)

 

• The line for the game is Villanova by 19 points.

• In the midst of a challenging road stretch, No. 3 Villanova returns home to take on DePaul on Wednesday in a Big East game. This is the only home contest in a five-game stretch for the Wildcats, who have defeated the Blue Demons 15 straight times – including an 18-point rout in Chicago in late December.

• The Wildcats again shot the lights out against the Musketeers – 60.3 percent from the field and 16-of-34 from behind the arc – in dominating the top-five showdown after losing two of their previous three games. DePaul has dropped five of six, although its last three losses have come by seven total points.

• Marin Maric has made at least 60 percent of his shots in five straight games, including a sizzling 10-of-12 performance in Sunday’s loss to Seton Hall. The senior center finished with 23 points and has gone for at least 15 in five straight outings in raising his scoring average to 14.0 – second on the team. Max Strus leads the way at 16.8 points per game but has surpassed that average only once in the last six outings and is coming off a 3-of-7 performance from the foul line after going 23-of-26 over the last month.

• Trailing Xavier by a half-game in the Big East standings, Villanova certainly cannot afford to lose to DePaul and the team likely will need to win out (at Creighton, at Seton Hall, versus Georgetown) to secure the regular-season title. Donte DiVincenzo, who has been terrific since Phil Booth (hand) was injured, poured in 21 points on 5-of-7 from 3-point range versus Xavier and added nine assists along with nine rebounds with only one turnover. Jalen Brunson, a national player of the year candidate, had a relatively quiet 11 points and continued to struggle from 3-point range (4-of-25 over a four-game span).

• Villanova averages 87.4 points – best in the nation entering Tuesday’s action.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Any Other Result
Previous Pick
Next Pick