Butler Bulldogs vs Villanova Wildcats Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Villanova vs Butler NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Indianapolis.

Villanova vs Butler Prediction

Betting on today's Wildcats and Bulldogs game? Catch the action at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN, as the Bulldogs hosts this showdown at 6:30 ET on FS1. In this Big East matchup, Villanova is favored bt -2.5 vs. Butler. The over/under for the game is 146 points.

Villanova vs. Butler Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Villanova Wildcats at Butler Bulldogs
Where: Indianapolis at Hinkle Fieldhouse
Date: Wednesday, January 1st
Betting Odds VILL -2.5, VILL -142 | BUTL +116 O/U 146

Wildcats Preview: Can the Wildcats Offense Score Enough on the Road?

Villanova’s season record fell to 8-5 after an 86-79 road loss to Creighton on Saturday. The Wildcats entered the game as +5 point underdogs and didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 165, exceeding the over/under line of 142.5.

Villanova trailed 40-38 at halftime and allowed 46 points in the 2nd half while scoring 41. The Wildcats will need to tighten up defensively as they look to bounce back in their next game.

Wildcats Offense Breakdown

Villanova's offense put up 79 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 56.2%, and they hit 77.8% of their free throws, going 7-for-9 from the line.

Eric Dixon led the way with 27 points, hitting 4 of 7 threes, while Ryan Kalkbrenner added 23 points, shooting 66.7% overall. Jamiya Neal was 6 of 7 from deep, finishing with 20 points and 6 assists, and Steven Ashworth also contributed 20 points, along with 11 assists.

Wildcats Team Defense

Villanova's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 86 points on 55% shooting from the field. They allowed 31 made field goals on 56 attempts.

From beyond the arc, Villanova's defense allowed 14 threes on 25 attempts, a 56% shooting performance. They also sent the opposing team to the free-throw line 14 times, where they made 10 free throws.

Bulldogs Preview: Is an Upset Waiting to Happen at Home?

Butler Bulldogs Recent Game/Games

Butler dropped to 7-6 on the season after a 78-74 loss to Connecticut on Saturday. The Bulldogs were +8.5 point underdogs but managed to keep the game closer than expected. The total points for the game reached 152, surpassing the over/under line of 142.5.

Butler trailed 42-33 at halftime but showed resilience by outscoring UConn 41-36 in the second half. Despite the loss, the Bulldogs’ strong second-half performance and ability to cover the spread are positive takeaways.

Bulldogs Offense Breakdown

Butler put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 42.6% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc, hitting 5 of 15 threes. Their effective field goal percentage was 48.1%, and they were strong from the free-throw line, making 23 of 28 attempts for 82.1%.

Alex Karaban led the way with 21 points, hitting 4 of 9 from deep. Liam McNeeley and Patrick McCaffery each added 17 points, with McNeeley dishing out 7 assists. Andre Screen also contributed 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Bulldogs Team Defense

Butler's defense gave up 78 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 42% from the field. They allowed 18 two-point field goals on 39 attempts, a 46% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, Butler's defense limited the other team to 5 threes on 15 attempts, a 33% success rate. However, they sent the opponent to the line 28 times, where they converted 23 free throws, shooting 82%.

Wildcats vs Bulldogs Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Across their ten previous road games, Villanova has an ATS mark of 4-6. Their straight up record in these matchups was 3-7 while averaging 70 points per game.
In their last ten games at home, the Bulldogs have a straight up record of 4-6 while going 6-4 vs. the spread. The team averaged 73 points per game in this stretch.
In their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Bulldogs have a straight up record of 3-7 and an ATS mark of 5-5.
The last ten games that Villanova was favored, they have an ATS mark of 5-5 while going 7-3 straight up.