Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Rider vs Villanova NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Villanova.
Rider vs Villanova Prediction
Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Broncs and Wildcats. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on FS2, and it's hosted by the Wildcats at Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, PA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 136.5 points, with Villanova being favored by -19.5 over Rider.
Rider vs. Villanova Matchup At A Glance
- Sport: NCAAB
- Teams: Rider Broncs at Villanova Wildcats
- Where: Villanova at Finneran Pavilion
- Date: Wednesday, November 27th
- Betting Odds VILL -19.5, RIDER +1300 | VILL -4666 O/U 136.5
Broncs Preview: Will Rider Shock Everyone at Finneran Pavilion?
Rider Broncs Recent Game/Games
Rider pulled off a 57-53 road win over Bucknell on Saturday, November 23rd. Entering the game as +4 point underdogs, the Broncs not only won but also covered the spread.
Rider led 30-24 at halftime and scored 27 points in the 2nd half while allowing 29. The combined points of 110 fell well short of the 141.5 O/U line.
Broncs Offense Breakdown
Rider's offense struggled in their last game, managing just 57 points on 32.7% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 38.5%, and they hit only 31.2% from beyond the arc, making 5 of 16 attempts.
Inside the arc, the Broncs shot 33.3% (12/36), while connecting on 66.7% of their free throws (18/27). They grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and dished out 12 assists. Tariq Ingraham led the team with 14 points and 9 rebounds, while Josh Bascoe added 13 points, despite shooting just 12.5% from three-point range (1/8).
Broncs Team Defense
Rider's defense was on point, holding their opponent to just 53 points on 35% shooting from the field. They limited two-point opportunities, with the other team making only 10 of 21 shots inside the arc.
From beyond the arc, Rider's defense was effective, as the opposing team shot 28%, hitting 9 of 32 three-pointers. Rider also sent them to the line 20 times, where they converted 12 free throws.
Wildcats Preview: Can Villanova Lock in a Home Win?
Villanova's season continued with a narrow 76-75 loss to Maryland on Sunday. The Wildcats, who were +6.5 point underdogs, managed to cover the spread, but couldn't secure the win. The game’s total points of 151 exceeded the O/U line of 139.
Villanova led 40-28 at halftime but allowed 48 points in the 2nd half while scoring 35. The Wildcats will need to address their 2nd half defense moving forward.
Wildcats Offense Breakdown
Eric Dixon was the star for Villanova in their last game, scoring 38 points and hitting 5 of 11 from beyond the arc. Derik Queen also contributed significantly, with 22 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 64.3% from the field.
As a team, Villanova shot 46.8% overall, with an effective field goal percentage of 54.8%. They hit 31% from three-point range, making 9 of 29 attempts, and were strong from the free-throw line, hitting 8 of 9 shots (88.9%).
Wildcats Team Defense
Despite Villanova's defensive struggles, they allowed 76 points on 50% shooting from the field. The Wildcats gave up 22 two-point field goals on 37 attempts, with the opposing team shooting 59% from inside the arc.
From three-point range, Villanova's defense held the opposition to 6 made threes on 19 attempts, a 31% shooting performance. The Wildcats also sent the other team to the free-throw line 19 times, where they converted 14 free throws for a 73% success rate.
Broncs vs Wildcats Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis
- Across their last five road contests, Rider has been good against the spread posting a mark of 4-1. Their overall mark in these games was 4-1, while averaging 67 points per game.
- Across their ten previous home games, Villanova has an ATS mark of 3-6-1. Their straight up record in these matchups was 2-8 while averaging 66 points per game.
- Rider has done well both straight up and vs the spread as the underdog, going 3-2 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five games.
- Going back to their last five games as the favorite, the Wildcats have a straight up record of 2-3. But, their mark vs the spread was just 2-3.
Rider vs Villanova Prediction & Free Pick
- KnupSports.com Free Betting Prediction: Rider +19.5 Be sure to check out our other NCAA Basketball betting previews for this week. KnupSports.com also updates their sports betting picks page daily with plays across all sports.